WRPO-LP

WRPO-LP "Indian Lake Radio" (for Russells Point, Ohio, its city of license) is a non-commercial and educational low power FM community radio station at 93.5 mHz licensed to the village of Russells Point which up until early 2008 aired a Big Band and Adult Standards format. The station then aired a smooth jazz format from that point until May 9, 2009 when it switched to an oldies format. Its studios and transmitter are both located in the city of license and serves the communities of Russells Point, Lakeview, the perimeter of Indian Lake State Park, and surrounding portions of west-central Ohio.

Brief history

WRPO-LP, originally nicknamed "The Point," was founded in 2002 and commenced broadcasting on Memorial Day May 27 of that year. Its transmitter power is 100 watts ERP. Robbie Robinson and station manager Gene Kirby are just a few of the station's air personalities who are all volunteers. Its studios and offices are located at 433 State Route 708 in the village municipal building.

WRPO's former big band format was a tribute to the live performance venue of the now long gone Sandy Beach Amusement Park which was frequented by many of the popular orchestras and singers of that era...many of which were broadcast live nationwide on network radio.

WRPO is owned by the Village of Russells Point and is programmed by Gene Kirby, who also owned and operated WMHO, a micropower AM broadcaster (now defunct) at 1620 kHz in Marysville that initially aired a classic country format (following the three year departure of WUCO's studios and offices to Columbus when it was part of Saint Gabriel Cathiolic Radio) but has since employed a similar oldies format, as well as have programmed WDEQ-FM, 91.7mHz in DeGraff on behalf of its owner, the Riverside Board of Education until 2010. Kirby is also operations manager of WQTT (the former WUCO) in Marysville which moved back to its original city of license in 2010. WQTT is now owned by ICS Commuinications.

Programming

WRPO-LP now airs an oldies format after a previous one year run as a smooth jazz station. The switch to oldies, coupled with more professional on-air production values and audio imaging (possibly inspired by kindred spirit WSWO-LP) has produced a much more positive feedback from local listeners compared to its previous jazz format and has resulted in increased support by listener contributions and underwriting by local businesses.

Weekday programs

World and National News airs several times daily from the IRN/USA Radio Network followed by several local news segments during the morning hours at five minutes past the hour and at 12:05 in the afternoon in addition to community news segments and the Indian Lake Local Schools daily lunch menus.

Local programs on Saturday

Robbie Robinson's Not-so News a tongue-in-cheek perspective on local events and vignettes with a humorous homespun flavor at 6:30 am and again at 7:30 am,eminating from the fictitious "25th Floor Newsroom" of the TIC(Tongue In Cheek) News Network whose motto is "We're not always accurate..but we ARE first!"

Blues On The Lake -A one hour program hosted by WRPO volunteer Jim Matthews from 8-9 am airing a mix of of traditional delta blues,vintage R&B, soul music and blues-fusioned rock.

The Look Back Show -hosted by Dale Madison and Larry Armstrong from 9-11am playing classic hits from a particular year with a look back at the news events that happened from that same year. The new program replaced The Saturday Morning Show a talk/information program with local and area guests that was anchored by Robbie Robinson and station manager Gene Kirby which last aired on October 5, 2013.

The Famous Old Time Music Show - A one hour program of traditional bluegrass, Americana and classic country music hosted by Larry Roose is aired from 11am-12 noon on behalf of fellow bluegrass musician Vernon McIntyre,the owner of The Famous Old Time Music Company located in St. Johns east of Wapakoneta.

Sunday programs

Sunday Morning At The Memories Two hours of classic adult standards from the 1950s and 60s featuring music by the likes of Frank Sinatra,The Platters,Dean Martin,Tony Bennett,Rosemary Clooney among others...6-8am.

Sunday Morning With The Beatles Locally produced and hosted by Jason Roberts from 10am until 12 noon.

Sydnicated programs

The Best of Glenn Sauter's Hits of Yesteryear -Saturday evenings 6-8 pm and Sunday evenings 7-9am

Cool Bobby B's Doo Wop Stop -Saturday evenings 8-11pm and Sunday evenings 9pm-12 midnight.

Community support and facilities

WRPO's oldies format has been on since the spring of 2009, garnering great support from the individuals and businesses in the Indian Lake Resort Region. With their support, the station has upgraded to an on-air digital audio processor, and as of October, 2011 had upgraded the quality of the music on-air to the highest quality mp-3 sound possible. (Many commercial radio stations air music in far lower quality than the music on WRPO.)

The station's music comes from the 1950s to the 1980s. Or, to quote one of the station ID's, "From The Start Of Rock And Roll...To The Start Of M-TV!" The music is carefully selected by the station's Production Manager, Kevin Fodor (AKA - Jason Roberts, formerly with then-oldies formatted WCOL-FM in Columbus, Ohio in the early 1990s. Jason currently works full-time for Cox Media Group/Dayton and volunteers his time with WRPO.)

Previous formats:(2002-2008)

According to its current website as of February 22, 2008, the station announced a switchover from Big Band and Adult Standards to a smooth jazz format. "The Best of Old Time Radio" featuring vintage episodes of Fibber McGee and Molly, The Green Hornet, Lum and Abner, The Great Gildersleeve, Gunsmoke among others were also aired to coincide with its earlier formats.

The format switch to smooth jazz took place on Saturday March 8, 2008. Ovenight programming also included oldies from 12 midnight until early morning. The format switch was also reflected in its website which was upgraded on April 8, 2008. From February until May 2009, the overnight oldies were replaced by "Music 'Till Dawn" a mix of beautiful music and big band prior to its switch to a full-time oldies format.

Oldies

A survey of local listeners took place in March and April 2009 by the local low power station which helped determine the switch to Oldies on Saturday May 9, 2009 at 11am local time.

In February 2012, a second studio used for audio production and live programs was constructed.

WRPO celebrated its tenth anniversary on the air during Memorial Day weekend of 2012. Leading up to this event,Ken Deutsch, a broadcaster and journalist from Toledo wrote an article about low-power FM radio detailing WRPO's community involvement and hometown flavor for Radio World, a trade publication published on April 24 of 2012

Other Programs

Other local programs include:

Dial A Deal with Dale Madison and Larry Armstrong Saturdays during the spring and summer months.

Gene Kirby also produces and hosts a Saturday morning Big Band program for WSWO-LP, an oldies station in Huber Heights on Saturday mornings from 7-9 am.

See also

• Oldies
• Smooth Jazz (previous format)
• Indian Lake (Ohio)
• Low power FM
• Lima Radio
• List of radio stations in Ohio

External links

• Official WRPO-LP site (with audioclips)
• Radio World story on WRPO-LP (page 18 in page format)
• WRPO information page at Indian Lake, Ohio Portal
• WRPO mention on Railfan website
• WRPO mentioned on Radio-Info website
• WRPO information at Public Radio Exchange site
• WRPO mention on website of The Famous Old Time Music Company
• Gray Fox Broadcasting website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WRPO
• Radio-Locator information on WRPO-LP
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WRPO

Coordinates: 40°28′05″N 83°53′31″W / 40.468°N 83.892°W / 40.468; -83.892