Newspapers / The News-Herald (Ahoskie, N.C.) / July 2, 1993, edition 1 / Page 16
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The News-Herald, Friday, July 2,1993 Local branch offers degree from Shaw U. UJRCS m9f^' i WRCS, WQDK offices, tower Offices and transmitter for WRCS-AM and WQDK-FM are located about two miles south of Ahoskie on N.C. 42. WRCS A group of citizens concerned about extending educational oppor tunities beyond the main Raleigh campus of Shaw University met in early August, 1983, at the Toma hawk Restaurant in Ahoskie. The group consisted of ministers from the West Roanoke Missionary Baptist Association, alumni, a pub lic school counselor and the main campus. Those attending the meeting were Dimple M. Newsome, Hollis and Earleen Creecy, Mildred M. Si mons, Emma Johnson, the Rev. John Law, the Rev. Dr. Chester A. Hart, Mrs. Virginia M. Hart, the Rev. S.B. Lewis, the Rev. A.M. Williams, the Rev. James R. Wig gins, Mrs. Jean W. Giddings, Mrs. Elouise P. Newsome and the Rev. James A. Felton. From the main campus were Dr. McLewis Clayton, Dr. Robert Powell, Dr. Joan Barett and James Mitchell. came on the air April 15. 1948, and covered an area from Virginia Beach, Va., to Rocky Mount. On the same day and evening. Superintendent George Norris and the Hertford County Board of Edu cation gave the group permission to salvage the abandoned back hall at Robert L. Vann School. Later in August, the first four- year school in the area offering a bachelor's degree was opened with a student body of 33. In 1984, Carl Lee, Thomas Ear- ley, Claude Odom and Ray Williams were the first graduates. The Shaw University Center for Alternative Programs of Education (CAPE) was founded to provide ed ucational opportunities for individ uals who are unable to earn a col lege degree in the traditional way. CAPE students can pursue their degrees in a way best suited to their circumstances. This may include independent study, evening classes, weekend classes or courses taken at either accredited colleges and uni versities. WRCS covers Roanoke-Chowan area with music, farm news, locai sports By Don Upchurch Manager, VkRCS and WQDK-FM On April 24, 1948, 970 kilohertz on the AM broadcast band was usually crystal clear. There may have been an occasional crackle of distant lightning or the ripping sound of electrical discharges from the spark plugs of a passing 1947 Chevrolet attacking the radio’s speaker. About two miles south of Ahoskie on N.C. 42 stood a gleam ing white building with red trim. In the back 303 feet of steel stood straight up in the sky, 18 cables holding it in position. Nearby the soft drone of an air- conditioning unit could be heard, thus making this structure unique in another way, as the first totally air-conditioned building in the Roanoke-Chowan area. Inside, engineers "Tince" Barnes and John Sherwood poured over the latest test measurements of the au dio lines, line voltage and schemat ics of a Raytheon 1,000-watt transmitter, ready to sign on the Roanoke-Chowan's first radio sta tion. It was to be the only radio station south of Norfolk, west of Elizabeth City, north of Greenville and east of Rocky Mount. Its WRCS call letters would reflect the service area — Wonderful Roanoke-Chowan Section. Ahoskie's town fathers: W.H. Bas- night, Joseph Burden, Noah Garrett, Charles H. Jenkins, Alex Lipsitz and Lyman Wilkins Sr. These wise businessmen realized their desire to bring Ahoskie into one of the coun try's most fascinating forms of communications. Favorite programing included Ahoskie High School football replays with Sammy Doughtie and a women's show with Elva Creech in the early years. On the air Then on April 15, 1948. the big day, upon the order of P.G. "Phil" Sewell, general manager of the new operation, WRCS went on the air with a signal which could be heard as far away as Wake Forest and Virginia Beach, Va. WRCS — known by its corpo rate name across the state, Roanoke-Chowan Broadcasting Co. — was the result of the planning of With 1,000 watts of energy being fed to the 300-foot tower, those in terested enough to have their radios tuned to 970 khz heard the sound of a baby’s cry, signifying the birth of a new radio station. The baby, iden tified as Reed Raynor of Ahoskie, was encouraged to catch his cue by a slight pinch on the behind. Since going on the air, WRCS has maintained its daytime sched ule, operating from 6 a.m. until lo ADELPHIA CABLE COMMUNICATIONS Congratulations Ahoskie! ADELPHIA CABLE COMMUNICATIONS is proud to provide cable services to the Town of Ahoskie and all of Hertford County. Congratulations on your Centennial. May we serve you for the next 100 years! llSN.MitcheUSl. 1-800-835-4949 Ahoskie cal sunset. Hurricane struck Over the years WRCS has not been off the air more than approxi mately 20 days all totaled. One time, which locals can remember in the mid-I950's, came when Hurri cane Hazel, with its high winds, ac tually blew the tower off its mounts, causing it to fall within the tower field behind the station. Over the years WRCS has sup plied a continuous flow of informa tion to the area with tobacco market reports, news and sports. Favorite programming included Ahoskie High School football replays on Saturday mornings with Sammy Doughtie at the microphone and women's shows in the early years with Elva Creech. A partial list of air personality from the early years includes Burt Durmond, Johnny Palmer, Bill Harris, Joe Bradley, Laverne Watson, Ray McClees, Ken Adams and Ed Cobb. The WRCS building, in the shape of a rectangular donut, re- (See WRCS, Page 17A) Repeat Performance wishes to extend our heartest Congratulations on your lOO*** Birthday! Repeat Performance Consignment Shop 108 E. Main Street Ahoskie 332-8030 Open: Monday thru Saturday 10 am until 5 pm Fine Clothing •Accessories for Children and Teens • Maternity Fashions Infant Equipment • Formal V^ear ► Toys and Books ’Beautiful efotfiing at Bargain prices. Kay Byrd, Owner Congratulations, AHOSKIE on your lOO**' Birthday! TIRE SALE! Tiempo $2095 I watufity WilhCoup^lT^^u 7-31-93 r Computerized Wheel I Alignment !□ $21 ®39 ( Thrust Angle All 4 I Wheels! L . • I elta charge. Wkh 15 A>inl Mamt it^sp WilhC0LpcrTltu7-31-93 j Wilh Coupon Thru 7-31-93 FREE Brake Inspection "NO Obligation" WiIiCouponTt»u7-31-93 J ®xrp OJnrpnrattnrt Old Fashioned Service Since ‘76 US 13 South • Ahoskie • 332-4196 Other Locations To Serve You: Greenville • Edenton • Williamston • Plymouth • Wilson • Rocky Mount • Manteo • Washington • New Bern, NC • Suffolk, VA
The News-Herald (Ahoskie, N.C.)
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July 2, 1993, edition 1
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