There seemed to be "things" happening at WMIT right around 2000 -- give or take a year. Many longtime announcers seemed to "drop like flies" over a relatively short period. I think John Belensky and Louis Grant are the only two heritage announcers remaining. I also know the chief engineer left during this time period. It was also during this time that the programming was modified...the music "moderned-up" and became more contemporary. I, too, am also a fairly regular listener to WMIT and have differing opinions on these changes but still listen about as much as I did prior to these changes. Though I am still troubled (from a Christian perspective) that so many good people left in a short time frame. I just wonder though if these changes may have alienated a good chunk of listeners, resulting in the ratings discusssion which started this thread.
As far as the former announcers, whatever happened to Colin O'Brian, Charles Twitty, and Lisa Johnson? John Baker was pastoring a church on Sugar Hill Rd in Marion; Jay Michael Sumner is at 1380 WKJV.
Maybe MediaTech can elaborate on my thoughts...
Eric
I was one of those folks who left WMIT in 2001. Within about a 3 year time frame we lost most of the long-time employees. No need to elaborate on why we left. Let's just suffice it to say that we had some differences with new management. But what looked to be a nightmare really became a good ending for me, and probably most of us.
I am John Baker. I did mornings for 11 years, was PD for WMIT and WFGW (sometimes both, other times just WFGW) for 13 years, and worked there for 17 years total. I am now an Associate Pastor and an employee of a division of the Southern Baptist Convention.
As for the others, I'll do the best I can to update you.
Lisa Johnson: Married former music director Kevin Auman and works in the medical field.
Colin O'brien: Got married, did some radio in Maryland, and the last I heard about him was building houses.
Charles Twitty: Heard he was working for a heat and ac contractor.
Jay Michael: Works for AB Tech and does some radio on WKJV in Asheville.
Our longtime manager Edna Edwards developed Altzehimers and retired in 1997. She died in 2003.
I still have friends at WMIT and glad they are doing well.
Sure hate that WFGW southern gospel is gone. We worked hard to build a gospel music station without "dollar a hollar" preachers and KJV only! Putting that station together was a dream come true, and we had good success.
Thanks for asking about us. Maybe we did some good after all
