By Staff
1NILES – The announcement came the morning of Dec. 6 from Gloria Cooper during her daily radio talk show, 'Gloria's Place.' The talk radio pioneer that daily addressed news in the Niles and Buchanan area with local guests and open phone lines also said following the show, she submitted her resignation to Federated Media.
"We are not going off the air because we're on satellite. But broadcasting and programming as we know it now with 'RC in the Morning' and 'Swap Shop' and 'Gloria's Place' is probably going to cease by the end of the year," Cooper said Dec. 6 shortly after her show. "It's an economic thing that happens to many AM stations."
WNIL went public with the news without first notifying Federated Media the announcement was being made. Federated Media of Elkhart, Ind. is an independent multi-media company that broadcasts for WNIL.
Cooper said the decision to announce the end of local programming was made Dec. 6 after talking with 'RC In the Morning Show' host, Ric Clingaman. The scheduled guests for 'Gloria's Place' were unable to make the show, and Cooper also learned that day marked the 50th anniversary of WNIL going on the air.
Since her announcement, Leader Publications has learned Cassopolis-based WGTO is interested in returning the morning show format to the local airwaves.
The station, owned by Larry Langford of Chicago, is also in the process of purchasing the WDOW AM studio in Dowagiac from LeSEA Broadcasting of South Bend, Ind. Langford said he got his start in radio working at WNIL with Cooper in 1969.
Honorable mention
The notable stories of 2006 include:
Gary Rider, the superintendent of Brandywine Community Schools, accepted the superintendent position at Thornapple Kellogg Schools near Grand Rapids.
The district selected Rider during a special meeting on Dec. 18. His departure date from Brandywine has not yet been announced.
Rider has been instrumental in Brandywine's efforts to secure a millage request to be decided on May. 8