Teen wishes the old sound of classic country was back

Dear editor:

Just as traditional values and customs fade away, so does music.

My name is Skyler Podesek and I have lived in Mountain Home for seven years. I am a senior at Mountain Home High School and am 17 years of age.

For those who listen to 1240 KMHI, you know exactly what I am talking about when I mention traditional country music. 1240 KMHI "Classic Country" is not only a unique radio station for the music it plays, but an extreme rarity in today's society. It is quite special to live in a small town with its own radio station, and even more special to hear the beloved music broadcasted that has entertained people for over 60 years.

This radio station inspires a certain pride for one's community that I have never yet beheld before in any other small town. The good old' music of Cash, Hank, Haggard, and Waylon are once again being thrown away right here in our own little town, and that's nothing to say about Red Steegal and Cowboy Corner on Sunday Mornings!

The new radio station calls itself 1240 "Hank"; however, it plays hardly any "Hank" or any Classic Country at all. The music now coming out of that once great station is the same boring country music we find on FM radio, with the same monotonous songs that FM plays over and over again.

Not only are those involved ruining a radio station, they are throwing away among the greatest music in history. I used to love being able to turn on 1240 and hear classic country that you could not hear anywhere else on the radio. But, now when I turn on the radio and take it to 1240 I hear modern, overplayed, common music.

In my travels I have never came across a radio station that had such an enormous yet wonderful collection of classic country as 1240 KMHI, and it is quite a pitiful shame that these songs will cease to be broadcast. Furthermore, I am shocked that the ownership of the radio station would take away so many local senior citizens' daily entertainment. But, as an example myself, it's not just the elderly population that listens to this music.

If this change is originating from lack of monetary resources, the community should be made aware and given the opportunity to have a say in all of this. I would even be willing, myself to set up fundraising to keep this great music playing.

But, if the executive board of 1240 "Hank" is attempting to become just another country radio station, they are doing just that and will loose more listeners as those who tune in to hear classic country find that the music they grew up on is no longer available.

-- Skyler Podesek