Radio listeners in the Corbin-London-Williamsburg area now have a new alternative on their dial.

WEKU, the public radio service of Eastern Kentucky University, gained approval late last year from the Federal Communications Commission to construct a transmitter facility near Mt. Victory in eastern Pulaski County. WEKF, broadcasting at 88.5 FM, reaches all or portions of Whitley, Laurel, Knox, McCreary, Wayne, Lincoln, Rockcastle, Owsley and Clay counties in Kentucky and Scott County in Tennessee.

"We're thrilled that we are now able to provide classical music, National Public Radio programming, award-winning regional and state news coverage and EKU sports broadcasts to more than 100,000 potential listeners who until now have not been able to enjoy all the benefits of public radio," said Station Manager Tim Singleton. "This is the culmination of 12 years of efforts."

WEKU, at 88.9 FM, has served central Kentucky from Richmond since 1968. A second transmitter, broadcasting at 90.9 FM, was added later at Hazard.

"Now, listeners in the Corbin area and beyond will come to appreciate a station that rivals any in the nation for quality of programming," said Dr. Doug Whitlock, EKU's vice president for administrative affairs, who spoke at a launch ceremony for the station Tuesday, June 24.

WEKU provides more than 110 hours of classical music programs each week, featuring the finest artists and ensembles in the world. In addition, the station has earned more than 70 Kentucky Associated Press Awards in the past 10 years for its staff-produced news coverage, including its coverage of Kentucky's General Assembly. WEKU also has received the Governor's Media Award in the Arts for its promotion of the region's art scene. The station regularly records and broadcasts the Lexington Philharmonic MasterClassics concerts.

In addition, the Kentucky Education Association has awarded WEKU/WEKH staff members with its School Bell Awards of Excellence for their coverage of education news and issues.

The station carries National Public Radio news favorites such as Morning Edition, Weekend Edition and All Things Considered. Other regular features include Car Talk and Whad'Ya Know, a comedy-quiz-talk-interview show hosted by Michael Feldman.

The station also has been actively involved in the communities it serves, planting trees at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary in Fayette County and at abandoned strip mine sites in Perry and Breathitt counties.

Listener support accounts for about 25 percent of the station's annual budget. The station
also receives underwriting support from a variety of public and private local sources.

A $107,161 grant from the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program covered 75 percent of the station construction costs.

"The fact that we received the grant can be attributed, in large part, to the enthusiasm shown by Corbin and London area citizens and government officials through their letters of support that accompanied the grant application," said Dr. Fred Kolloff, director of EKU's Division of Media Resources. "That local support is an absolute must in a successful application."

Kolloff said the station has received numerous requests over the years to expand its signal to the Corbin-London area.

"We're especially excited to be able to further enhance EKU's service to the many area residents who are friends of EKU and to students attending the University's Tri-County Center in Corbin."

Some residents within an area just north of Whitley City and extending eastward to Keavy may experience interference from WEKF to WATE, Channel 6, Knoxville. Anyone noticing such interference should contact Tim Singleton at 800-621-8890, extension 8. WEKU will install a filter to remove the interference to Channel 6 at no cost to the owner of the television receiver.

For more information about WEKU/WEKH, visit its website, weku.fm.