When I moved to Wheeling just over 4 years ago, I was delighted to find WWOV 101.1 while scanning the radio stations in my truck. WWOV has been a permanent fixture in my life since I've found it. I grew up listening to my dad's records, many of them classic country and bluegrass. I love turning on the radio and being transported to another place and time through the programming WWOV offers.
The Wheeling Jamboree is more than live shows and a radio station, it's a cultural institution the likes of the Grand Ol Opry in Nashville right here in Wheeling, WV. Many people from Wheeling and beyond tune into this station daily for music that can be hard to come by on the radio. Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Charley Pride, if you think of a beloved country artist, it's likely they've graced the stage of the Jamboree.
On October 28, The Wheeling Jamboree Facebook page posted a simple request for volunteers as older members of the organization age out to enjoy retirement. They received more messages than any time in the recent past. I personally reached out to offer my services as a Wheeling resident and business owner who enjoys the programming and wants to see the organization surviving AND thriving. What was not mentioned in the post was the dire need for funding to pay for programming RIGHT NOW.
The $7200 will be used to pay back fees as well as the next 6 months of operating costs associated with the transmitting provided by Lauttamus Communications via a cell tower rental. This will allow WWOV to stay on the air and plan for the future.
The City of Wheeling is coming back to life before our eyes via new businesses popping up downtown, the streetscape project and the revitalization of historic buildings such as the Berry Supply building as the newly opened Waterfront Hall. The rich history of the Jamboree deserves to play a central role in the community that Wheeling is currently building. The goal is to keep WWOV 101.1 on the air. This is URGENT need to pay the fees for broadcasting this week. Preserving this institution's commercial free programming on our radio is the first step in breathing new life into the organization.
Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit WHEELING JAMBOREE, INC., and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this because that means so much to me.
More information about WHEELING JAMBOREE, INC.: Preserving the tradition of the World's Original Radio Jamboree. The second oldest Country Music Radio Stage Show in history. We strive to provide and educate future generations in the rich musical heritage of West Virginia and our unprecedented history since the program's first radio broadcast in 1933. We continue to contribute to the community of Wheeling as the birthplace of our Arts Institution and assisting the tourism aspects surrounding Wheeling's Landmark Capitol Theatre. Our Non-Profit organization is committed to the recently established Event Center and Museum building located nearby the Capitol Theatre.
