John Charles Rose, owner and operator of WIZS, was on Town Talk this morning to announce this day, May 1, 2019, as the 64th anniversary of the local radio station.
On May 1, 1955, Howard V. Harrell, a tv and radio repairman from Oxford, started the station under the call letters WHVH – his initials. The station has been on the air continuously ever since bringing the community local news, sports, music and entertainment.
The call letters were changed to WIZS around 1959, shortly after the station was sold to Stan Fox and his business partners Irv Fox and Seymour Dworsky.
Rose Farm & Rentals purchased WIZS and assumed operation on June 1, 1989, under president John D. Rose, III. A month from today, the Rose family will celebrate 30 years of WIZS ownership.
“Our continuing commitment to the community and the radio staff have made it possible for us to celebrate 64 years as a station,” said Rose. “The various personalities, the various people who are very good at their jobs, and of course our loyal advertising base have all made it possible.”
Rose reminded listeners that news is free and available 24/7 at www.wizs.com and on WIZS’ social media pages.
For the last 30 years, local news has been broadcast on air on 1450AM, as well as on the more recently licensed translator 100.1 FM, at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily; mid-day news has been reported at various times throughout the years. News has been on the air at set times since day one of operation.
WIZS’ online presence grew exponentially in 2018 with 100,000 people visiting the website and daily additions of viewers who like and/or follow the station on Facebook and Twitter.
Putting the “community” in the locally owned and operated community radio station, WIZS offers approximately 250 public service announcements free of charge each month to non-profit organizations, schools, churches and government institutions. PSAs can be submitted and viewed online at any time by clicking here.
Rose also reminded listeners of the current weekday station schedule, including a mix of news, music, sports, talk and entertainment:
“Weekday Wakeup with Brandi Leigh” from 6 – 9 a.m.
Music from 9 – 11 a.m.
“Town Talk” at 11 a.m.
“Tradio” at 11:30 a.m.
“Beach Music Blast” with Trey Snide at 12 p.m.
“Sports Mayhem” with Kemp Collins at 1 p.m.
Music from 2 – 4 p.m.
“Afternoon Drive” with John Stevenson at 4 p.m.
Weekend programs include “Country Grass” with Ms. Velvet from 7 – 9 a.m. and “Choice Country Classics” from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday afternoon brings a mix of Country, Beach and Oldies music for your listening pleasure.
Robert Wright provides live news, local church happenings and gospel music on Sunday mornings from 7 – 11 a.m. in a segment titled “Sounds of Jordan.” This is followed by Ms. Velvet’s “Sunday Afternoon Gospel Jamboree,” a popular variety of Country, Bluegrass and Gospel music, from 12 – 2 p.m.
“Thanks for listening to WIZS,” Rose concluded his segment. “We’re proud to know you, we’re proud to try to help you, we’re proud to try to do good things for you and we’re proud you’ve chosen to make WIZS your home on the radio.”
To hear the Town Talk segment with John Charles Rose in its entirety, click here.