Local community radio KZ88, (88.1 FM, of Cabool), is in the midst of fundraising to continue broadcasting. Funds are needed to purchase the tower they are using and for operating expenses.
KZ88 recently agreed to purchase the tower previously rented to make sure it would continue to be available.
“If we didn’t buy it, we would lose our spot on the tower and our station would just go away,” said Kazie Perkins, one of the directors of the station.
Because of the FCC mandated signal pattern of the station, there were no viable options.
“We could buy the tower and continue without interruption, or pay even more money to remove our antenna and transmitter facilities and try to find a new location and pay again to establish our operations from that point,” Perkins said.
The station has set up a tower fund to pay for the purchase and related expenses. The goal is $10,000, of which nearly half has been raised. The station has had a concert, yard sales and other events for fundraising, but still needs the support of community-minded people and businesses to meet their goal and complete the sale.
Online donations can be made safely and securely at www.kz88.org. Donations can also be mailed to the station (at 1211 Ozark St., Cabool, Mo., 65689), or by calling the station during business hours at 888-598-8136. In addition to the tower fund the station also needs funds for basic operating expenses (electric, phone, utilities, licensing fees, insurance, etc.) KZ88 is an all-volunteer station, so all money donated goes directly to expenses of keeping it on the air. Donations for operating expenses can be made in the same way as for the tower, and supporters can also set up monthly automatic donations.
KZ88 recently broadcast over five hours of live coverage from the Texas County Fair in Houston. The broadcast featured interviews with vendors, merchants and fairgoers, and also a live report in a somewhat shaky, somewhat scared voice from the Expo Wheel, the Ferris wheel at the fair.
Earlier this year, KZ88 broadcast live from Brushy Creek Days and DJ Mark’s Trance on the Porch was aired live from the event and carried by other stations across the country.
Everyone is invited to come Saturday to the annual KZ88 Labor Day Sale and Barbecue at the station’s studio in Cabool. The station will be having a yard sale beginning at 8 a.m. and will serve the barbecue beginning at noon. All proceeds benefit the station.
As a special treat, station representatives will also be making peppermint cotton candy.
KZ88 (a.k.a. KZGM) is an independent, locally owned and operated community radio station. A complete station broadcast schedule can be viewed at www.kz88.org.