WOKW
Encyclopedia
WOKW is a commercially licensed FM radio station
. It operates on the federally assigned frequency of 102.9 MHz at an effective radiated power of 3,000 Watts. WOKW is licensed to Curwensville, Pennsylvania
, but maintains studios and offices in Clearfield
.
Prior to the existence of this station, WOKW was assigned to the station now known as WIII
in Cortland, New York
. In the early 80's that version of WOKW was known as OK100 in Cortland. They also broadcasted the same show in Ithaca, NY on 108 (ad spot: OK100, Ithaca 108).
WOKW was for much its history the sister station of AM 1160 WCCS
, located in Homer City, Pennsylvania. WCCS first went on the air in 1983 under a partnership by two former radio station managers, Ray Goss of Indiana
and Mark Harley of Clearfield; "Raymark" is an amalgam of their first names. Both men had worked for radio stations in Indiana and State College, respectively, that were under the ownership of Progressive Publishing Company, which also owned radio stations in Clearfield.
Goss and Harley, who had worked together for years prior to putting WCCS on the air, pooled their resources together to build WCCS, and continued their partnership until 1988, when Goss decided to pursue other interests. Harley bought out Goss' stake in the company and retained possession of WCCS, and with a desire to put a station on the air closer to his home, successfully applied for a construction permit for an FM station to be built in Curwensville.
A broadcast tower was built just outside of the Curwensville borough limits, and a studio was built in space shared by a local trucking company on Old Town Road in suburban Clearfield.
In 1991, Harley decided to expand his portfolio to include a third station, which he built in Northern Cambria County. WCCZ (now WPCL
) went on the air at 97.3 from studios at PA Routes 219 and 271 in downtown Spangler
, now known today as Northern Cambria (through the merger of Barnesboro and Spangler boroughs). Unforeseen circumstances, however, forced Harley to sell WCCZ to WKYN
, which made the station a translator to rebroadcast the signal of its Ridgway-based signal to listeners in the Johnstown area.
Harley moved WOKW to its permanent location in the late 90's to a former gas station location he purchased along Clearfield/Curwensville pike near a local shopping center. The building was completely renovated with office space being leased next door and an apartment on the top floor.
In 2002, Harley sold WCCS to Renda Broadcasting Corporation of Pittsburgh, which also purchased WDAD & WQMU in Indiana and Lucky 106.5 from Latrobe. Harley did maintain possession of WOKW and continues to operate the station today.
football, boys and girls basketball and wrestling as well as Clearfield Bison
football, boys and girls basketball and wrestling, which continues today.
Harley continues today to run WOKW, which is the only standalone FM station in Clearfield County. In 2007, long time Clearfield broadcaster Bob E. Day joined the WOKW staff after 40 years at WCPA
/WQYX. Bob has his own oldies show "Sunday Super Gold" every Sunday afternoon.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
. It operates on the federally assigned frequency of 102.9 MHz at an effective radiated power of 3,000 Watts. WOKW is licensed to Curwensville, Pennsylvania
Curwensville, Pennsylvania
Curwensville is a borough located in Clearfield County, Pennsylvaniain the United States of America, northwest of Altoona on the West Branch Susquehanna River. Coal mining, tanning, and the manufacture of fire bricks were the industries at the turn of the 20th century. In 1900, 1,937 people lived...
, but maintains studios and offices in Clearfield
Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Clearfield is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,631 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clearfield County.-Geography:Clearfield is located at ....
.
History
WOKW signed on the air on August 1, 1989 at 10:29am. That exact time and day was chosen as they numerically reflected the new station's frequency of 102.9. The station was initially assigned the call letters WWWS, but those were changed shortly before the station went on the air. The station has been owned by Raymark Broadcasting since it first went on the air and has maintained the same adult contemporary format through ABC/SMN.Prior to the existence of this station, WOKW was assigned to the station now known as WIII
WIII (FM)
-External links:*...
in Cortland, New York
Cortland, New York
Cortland is a city in Cortland County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 18,740. It is the county seat of Cortland County.The City of Cortland, near the west border of the county, is surrounded by the Town of Cortlandville....
. In the early 80's that version of WOKW was known as OK100 in Cortland. They also broadcasted the same show in Ithaca, NY on 108 (ad spot: OK100, Ithaca 108).
WOKW was for much its history the sister station of AM 1160 WCCS
WCCS
WCCS is a commercially licensed AM radio station, licensed to Homer City, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, and 25 miles northwest of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. WCCS operates at the federally assigned frequency of 1160 kHz with a maximum daytime power output of 10,000 watts, and...
, located in Homer City, Pennsylvania. WCCS first went on the air in 1983 under a partnership by two former radio station managers, Ray Goss of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and Mark Harley of Clearfield; "Raymark" is an amalgam of their first names. Both men had worked for radio stations in Indiana and State College, respectively, that were under the ownership of Progressive Publishing Company, which also owned radio stations in Clearfield.
Goss and Harley, who had worked together for years prior to putting WCCS on the air, pooled their resources together to build WCCS, and continued their partnership until 1988, when Goss decided to pursue other interests. Harley bought out Goss' stake in the company and retained possession of WCCS, and with a desire to put a station on the air closer to his home, successfully applied for a construction permit for an FM station to be built in Curwensville.
A broadcast tower was built just outside of the Curwensville borough limits, and a studio was built in space shared by a local trucking company on Old Town Road in suburban Clearfield.
In 1991, Harley decided to expand his portfolio to include a third station, which he built in Northern Cambria County. WCCZ (now WPCL
WPCL
WPCL is a religious-formatted radio station located in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania. The station broadcasts programming from the He's Alive network on 97.3 FM.-Beginnings as WCCZ-FM:...
) went on the air at 97.3 from studios at PA Routes 219 and 271 in downtown Spangler
Spangler
-People:* Al Spangler, American baseball player* David Spangler, deceased United States Congressman from Ohio* David Spangler, American spiritualist* Donald H. Spangler, United States Naval officer...
, now known today as Northern Cambria (through the merger of Barnesboro and Spangler boroughs). Unforeseen circumstances, however, forced Harley to sell WCCZ to WKYN
WDDH
WDDH is an American radio station, licensed to Saint Marys, Pennsylvania. The station operates at the assigned frequency of 97.5 MHz and an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts. Its studios and offices sit atop Bootjack Mountain, just on the outskirts of Ridgway, Pennsylvania in Kersey, about...
, which made the station a translator to rebroadcast the signal of its Ridgway-based signal to listeners in the Johnstown area.
Harley moved WOKW to its permanent location in the late 90's to a former gas station location he purchased along Clearfield/Curwensville pike near a local shopping center. The building was completely renovated with office space being leased next door and an apartment on the top floor.
In 2002, Harley sold WCCS to Renda Broadcasting Corporation of Pittsburgh, which also purchased WDAD & WQMU in Indiana and Lucky 106.5 from Latrobe. Harley did maintain possession of WOKW and continues to operate the station today.
WOKW Today
Following the sale of WCCS, WOKW began to add sports to its line up of local broadcasting, including the broadcasts of Curwensville Golden TideCurwensville Area School District
The Curwensville Area School District covers the Boroughs of Curwensville, Grampian and Lumber City and Ferguson Township, Greenwood Township, Penn Township and Pike Township in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. The district operates Curwensville Jr/Sr High School, Curwensville Elementary School...
football, boys and girls basketball and wrestling as well as Clearfield Bison
Clearfield Area School District
The Clearfield Area School District is a rural, public school district. It is located within the central and northern portion of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania...
football, boys and girls basketball and wrestling, which continues today.
Harley continues today to run WOKW, which is the only standalone FM station in Clearfield County. In 2007, long time Clearfield broadcaster Bob E. Day joined the WOKW staff after 40 years at WCPA
WCPA (AM)
WCPA is an American radio station, licensed to Clearfield, Pennsylvania, the seat of government for Clearfield County. WCPA is owned and operated by First Media, Inc...
/WQYX. Bob has his own oldies show "Sunday Super Gold" every Sunday afternoon.
WOKW On Air Talent Past & Present
Throughout the years, the On Air Talent at WOKW have brought the listeners the local news, sports, and weather as well as producing advertisements for local businesses. Here lists some of those who are serving or have served on the On Air Staff at WOKW along with their period(s) of service.| Name | Period(s) of Service |
|---|---|
| Dennis Wood | 1989 to 1994 |
| LeRena Major | 1989 to 1994 |
| Shawn Inlow | 1989 to 1991 |
| Randy Thorn | 1989 to 1992 |
| Tom Zattoni | 1991 to 1996 |
| Shawn McIntire | 1992 to 1993 |
| James W. Strickland | 1992 to Present |
| Calvin Walls | 1994 to 2002 |
| Shawn Wilson | 1995 to 1996 |
| Dawn Roussey | 1996 to 2001 |
| Justin Ogden | 1996 to 1998 and 1999 to 2003 |
| Steve Harmic | 2000 to 2002 |
| Bob E. Day | 2007 to Present |