1985- Curious Cutbacks and Personnel Changes

March 10, 1985
Previously, weekday KMPS personalities worked a natural five-day week (unusual in broadcasting). Every once in a while, weekday folks would pull a Saturday shift and get paid extra. Not any more. Air personalities were told they’ll be working for free on Saturdays from now on. The timing is suspect: A new, high-paid program director is due this week.

Stations such as KIXI-FM and KING-AM recently eliminated from one to four employees and extended air shifts for the survivors, due presumably to financial considerations.

Last week KKMI dismissed most of the remaining staffers. Gone are Dick Curtis, Kelly James, Dennis Wills, Dan Packard. Economy measure, until new owners take over. Only Pat O’Day and Robert O’Brian are likely familiar voices at KKMI.

Twisting the dial

Robert E. Lee Hardwick, former KVI-KTAC personality and now a computer veep, is interviewed on Art Popham’s “PM Tacoma,” at 6 p.m. Monday on KAMT, 1360 kHz…. Hardwick still is experimenting with computer info for the masses on weekly programs on two stations _ KAMT at 9:30 p.m. Sundays and KXA at 7 p.m. Sundays. He plans to add stations in Maine and West Virginia, giving true merit to his self-described “National Digital Radio Network.” To begin this week, a Hardwick “broadcast” on a relatively secret audio source, 7-9 p.m. Mondays on the dial setting of 106.5 on an FM receiver plugged into Viacom Seattle-Bellevue cable-television system….

KLAY, 1480 kHz., Steilacoom, is now officially a “news-talk station,” including a sign-on feature at 6 a.m., Dorothy Wilhelm’s “40 Plus,” talk for women over 40… KLAY’s recorded noon-hour segment has been retitled “Let’s Start Talking, The Dimmitt’s Back,” and a Friday segment from 1-5 p.m. features Jerry Dimmitt live for open talk.