Jammin 97.3 signing off
If you turn your radio dial to 97.3 FM, you can listen to a diverse compilation of music and programming, but after Friday, all you will be able to tune in to will be static.
Anthony James Kelly, owner and operator of Jammin 97.3 FM, said he will pull the plug at 6 p.m. on that day. Currently, the radio station airs music Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The station broadcasts artists ranging from Michael Jackson to Black Sabbath, and airs hourly public service announcements.
"It's been fun trying to run a radio station," said Kelly. "It is a one-watt service that has been operating for the last seven years. It supports educational venues, and is a nonprofit station. I have been running it by myself for the most part, and I decided it was time to end it."
During the past year, the station has broadcast recordings of Yuma Elementary School District 1 board meetings and has provided coverage for Carver, Roosevelt and Post elementary schools, Fourth Avenue Junior High and Yuma High School.
Kelly said the station is very difficult to maintain financially.
"If I decided to run advertisements to help pay for it, then I would be competing with the bigger radio stations, and that is not what I wanted to do. This whole thing is just for fun," he said.
"I wanted to invest more money in the station, but I decided not to. Because of money problems, and the situation with the economy, I've decided to shut it off for now with the hope that I can re-establish it someday on the Internet."
Kelly said he has been involved with radio stations and other mass media venues since 1975.
"My friend built a transmitter in 1996 and asked me to do something with it," he said. "I started experimenting with it, and by ’98 it was on and off the air from day to day. Last February, the station began to air regular programming.
"I am obviously sad it's going under, and I have been thinking about ending it for the last few months. I do like what I have ended up with, and I did it all because I love music."
The final days of the station will include broadcasts of a variety of programs, including a series on general health, news, radio dramas and an eclectic selection of music. Guests Lee Sandoval, Jim Pupo and Kay Loving will be the featured disk jockeys during the final day.
Kelly said he chose the last day of broadcast to coincide with local high school graduations.
