KRKO STEEL FIRMLY PLANTED

After a decade-long fight with zoning commissions and vandalism to its site just as it had finished building the first of two diplexed stations, Andy Skotdal's KRKO site is getting ready to finish the second station.

The final two additional towers were stacked on this date and, as construction is finished, the plan is for KKXA (1520) to join KRKO (1380) on the air over the summer.

    
Six towers now stand in Everett, WA

KKXA (a nod to the original KXA (770)) will start at 20 kW Day, 50 kW Night on 1520, then jump to 50 kW fulltime. KRKO has a similar plan, to move from 34 kW Day, 50 kW Night, to 50 kW fulltime.

Read below for more of the story on the long struggle to build this facility. Additionally, for those interested, summaries of the zoning hearings were posted on the Internet. Some of the material is here, and here, and here. There are video clips from the hearings posted - complete with such typical accusations as the towers will kill property values and RF will kill children. There was even one man claiming that the farther the distance from the antenna, the more dangerous the RF. (Note: The video appears to require certain browsers or versions to work properly on PCs, or a plugin for Apple. For example, IE works, Firefox 4.0.1 did not - at least when this is written.)

More of the story can be found on the KRKO website: www.krko.com

This is almost the poster picture of how hard it can be to build towers these days.

September 2009

KRKO, Everett, WA, loses two towers to vandals.

Early on September 4, 2009, neighbors reported three people running from the KRKO site. Inspection later on in the morning showed their tallest tower and one of the other three were knocked over by a trackhoe. 

Fortunately, no one was hurt. According to station owner Andy Skotdal, the station never went off the air, although it is now operating from its back-up site. 

Although KRKO has not accused anyone of the vandalism, late Friday (Sept 4th), one of several websites for ELF (the eco-terrorist group Earth Liberation Front) claimed responsibility. The spokesman made typical statements blaming AM radio for health problems and trying to justify their vandalism. 

KRKO is offering a $25,000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandals.

Some aerial video shot from a helicopter is posted here

The station has already started to rebuild the towers. 

Another news report is posted here

KRKO Radio in Everett, WA has been fighting a battle for something like 10 years to construct the tower site. 

The usual petition drives and arguments were dusted off, photocopied, and presented by all the neighbors. Stories about irradiating children - and worse - caused fear and loathing. Fortunately, Skotdal and his company were able to prevail at the hearings over the emotional and pseudo-science presented against the station.

Now that the site is up and running, it appears the attacks have become physical.

Also there are video files of the hearings on the Snohomish County Zoning Board web pages. They make for interesting listening, as the various allegations of RF dangers are tossed out. The entire situation presents a lot of valuable information to other stations in dealing with zoning boards and local protests.

The latest information and more pictures can be found on www.krko.com

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