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WCMC Dedicates New Tower
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CBC Radio Division VP Ardie Gregory welcomes the crowd to WCMC-FM’s new tower site. |
Listening to WCMC-FM just got a little easier. On Wednesday, November 1, 2006, the New 99.9 Genuine Country flipped the switch on a brand new tower in Youngsville. The new tower location just north of Raleigh means that even more country music fans in central North Carolina can tune in for the best country hits of today and yesterday.
Capitol Broadcasting Company began working on the tower in December of 2005, shortly after WCMC signed on the air. WCMC spent its first months transmitting from a tower in Franklinton, renting the space. The WCMC “Tower Team” included CBC VP of Special Projects John Greene, WRAL-TV Chief Engineer Pete Sockett, WRAL-TV Transmitter Supervisor Matt Brandes, WRAL-FM Director of Engineering Keith Harrison and NCNN Technical Engineer/IT Coordinator Will Patnaud.
WRAL-FM’s Lori Rentsch (left) & Karen Kregg enjoy the pig-pickin’ buffet as they support their sister station. |
Colorful balloons brighten up the post-construction site. |
Signs ______ WCMC On-Air talent, such as Vince Daniels, dot the landscape. |
The 500 foot tower was designed and constructed by Electronics Research, Inc. of Chandler, Indiana. The New 99.9 Genuine Country now transmits from a total height of five hundred seventy-five feet, increasing the signal into all of the Metro counties, which include Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Orange and Wake. The Federal Communications Commission gave the okay for the New 99.9 Genuine Country to begin transmitting from the new tower.
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| The WCMC “Tower Team” receives recognition for coordinating the creation of the 500 foot tower (right). The hardworking crew consists of (l to r): WRAL-FM’s Keith Harrison, NCNN’s Will Patnaud, WRAL-TV’s Matt Brandes & Pete Sockett and CBC’s John Greene. |
“This new tower insures that we have full coverage of the Raleigh/ Durham Metro,” said WCMC Vice President & General Manager Ardie Gregory. Gregory heads up CBC’s entire radio division. “I invite everyone to tune in….Listen….Enjoy and hear the difference!”
CBC held a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony, complete with a Southern BBQ pig-pickin’ for WCMC staffers and CBC executives. Gregory thanked the several dignitaries from Franklin County in attendance for allowing WCMC to be a part of their community when the station first hit the air.
CBC is sharing the new tower site with the Franklin Country Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Space has also been allocated for amateur radio use.
WCMC Radio Music Director & On-Air Personality Dallas Reese kicks off the ribbon cutting ceremony. |
For more photos of the dedication of the new WCMC-FM Tower
see the slideshow.  |
