KCLS (defunct)

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For other uses, see KCLS.

KCLS was the first radio station to broadcast in Northern Arizona. Licensed to Flagstaff, Charles J. Saunders put it on the air in 1950. It operated at 600 kHz with 5,000 watts of power in the daytime and 500 watts directional at night.

Saunders, who was known as "C-J the D-J", eventually served as mayor of Flagstaff. Throughout most of its history, KCLS broadcast "middle-of-the-road" or "adult contemporary" music. It was also an early communications link for members of the nearby Navajo tribe, broadcasting in Navajo for two hours a day until the mid-1970s. KCLS had a long tradition of local news, with several radio journalists moving on to to news positions in larger markets and with networks. KCLS partnered with the National Weather Service to have their meteorologists deliver the weather from the National Weather Service offices. KCLS was also well known for broadcasting Northern Arizona University sports. Saunders owned stations KUPI and KID in Idaho Falls, Idaho at different times in the 1960s,'70s and '80s.

It went off the air in 1986.