WANR off the air briefly on two days

[derby378]

WARREN - Incidents Wednesday and Thursday turned WANR-AM into an off-the-Air America affiliate.

The downtown radio station was unable to broadcast its regular programming for several hours both days.

Station manager Tim Continenza said a person known to management and one or more accomplices entered the studio on Courthouse Square after 9 a.m. Wednesday.

"We had a board operator (on duty) who, with permission, locked the building and left to run an errand," Continenza said. "When he returned, they were in control of the radio station...They posted signs that Beacon Broadcasting was under new management. They changed the locks and changed the programming."

The station switched its format earlier this month to programming primarily from Air America, a liberal/progressive syndicated talk radio network currently heard in 53 markets nationwide and on satellite and Internet radio.

http://www.tribune-chronicle.com/news/story/0429202005_new07wanr29.asp

[mike_c]

1. This is only going to get worse....

The American Taliban is becoming increasingly militant.

[JohnnyRingo]

2. I live very near there and was just about to post this after reading the

local paper.
You beat me by five minutes. Hahahaha

The odd part is how these freeps "changed the locks" and hung signs declaring "new management"

Changed the locks?!!

[derby378]

4. "Captain Midnight" they ain't

I heard it was right-wing fundy Fristian stuff they started broadcasting. I can see it now - Janet Parschal vs. Randi Rhodes in an on-the-air steel-cage match.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Is this Warren, Ohio? Guess the fascists just can't handle the truth!

[JohnnyRingo]

6. Yep...Warren, Ohio in the middle of the "rust belt"

A VERY democratic town.

I guess the few republinazis get real frustrated.

[fasttense]

5. Seriously deranged. Why do repukes have this

festering need to control everyone and everything? It never seems to be enough for these wackos. They got the president, they got the house, they got the senate, they got most of the judiciary and they seem to have gotten most of the religious organizations. What is their problem with a small dissenting radio station? When is enough enough for these crazies? Why do they need to control everything?

[derby378]

7. Because we are here - that's why

Why did Hitler try to conquer all of Europe instead of settling for Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland? Why did Mussolini roll his tanks into northern Africa? Why did Tojo invade eastern Asia and the Pacific?

It's all about power and conquest, people. Now you know what to do.

[halobeam]

28. Why is Bush not going to stop with Iraq?

same thing. Must have it all.

[benburch]

8. This is JUST how they shut down AAR in Chicago and LA, you know.

I expect this story is not over.

[Rick Myers]

9. More details here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1434260

I am in contact with the station's legit management. It's a CRAZY story, but it shows just how psychotic these people can become...

[Rick Myers]

10. WANR off the air briefly on two days (AA Affiliate)

WARREN - Incidents Wednesday and Thursday turned WANR-AM into an off-the-Air America affiliate.

The downtown radio station was unable to broadcast its regular programming for several hours both days.
Station manager Tim Continenza said a person known to management and one or more accomplices entered the studio on Courthouse Square after 9 a.m. Wednesday.

"We had a board operator (on duty) who, with permission, locked the building and left to run an errand,'' Continenza said. "When he returned, they were in control of the radio station ... They posted signs that Beacon Broadcasting was under new management. They changed the locks and changed the programming.''

The station switched its format earlier this month to programming primarily from Air America, a liberal/progressive syndicated talk radio network currently heard in 53 markets nationwide and on satellite and Internet radio.

(snip)

http://www.tribune-chronicle.com/news/story/0429202005_new07wanr29.asp

[CottonBear]

11. Was this coordinated w/ the hacking of the IndyMediaUS site?

Why do conservatives hate our freedom of speech?

Why did they not name the persons who took over the station?

[Rick Myers]

12. It was not connected to the IndyMedia incident

And the 'crew' will be named. Still sorting out the legal details, will have more info this evening. I DO know the ID of the main player...

[CottonBear]

25. Thanks for the info. Please post any new info.

Is this AAR incident a criminal act or a misdemeanor offense?

[Rick Myers]

30. There are several levels of charges

Locally, criminal trespassing and civil charges, but FEDERAL charges once FCC completes investigation.

[Reverend_Smitty]

13. Why do they hate us for our freedoms??

:shrug:

[MontageOfFreedom]

14. Wow.....the corporate media must be stopped...

How dare they try to shut down freedom of speech, and disable the radio stations which are publically funded.

[Rainscents]

15. Basters won't stop at nothing!!! I hate these people!!!

[Wilber_Stool]

16. Kick

Think I'll bring this one back to life.

[onehandle]

17. WTF! This REEKS of 1930's Germany.

I want to know who the F*ck perpetrated this. What groups are they associated with?

[ellie]

18. I can't believe the repukes

are seizing radio stations. Er, yes I can. They need to be stopped.

[onehandle]

19. somebody else vote for this thread.

this is outrageous!

[Rick Myers]

20. Update

The police WERE involved in ending the situation at the station on the first day. The 'invaders' were finally told they were tresspassing and faced arrest.

The article is a bit confusing. It seems that the station was down for two days, but the AA signal was restored after the Fundies departed, but the next day SOMEONE (with keys) damaged the STL (Studio Transmitter Link) at the transmitter site several miles from the studio.

The FCC will be investigating, as well as local law enforcement.

More info at this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1753377

Rick

[don954]

21. wow..

just wow...

The neocons are really scared of us getting a voice. The offending parties just were allowed to leave??? I’m in the communications industry, vandalism, hijacking, and other offenses against a communications faculty are FEDERAL FELONYS.

[high density]

22. Wow. Air America has them THAT scared, eh? (NM)

[Rick Myers]

23. A local (Niles, OH) preacher was one of the occupiers

And they BROUGHT programming (music, etc, on cds) and were broadcastings for several hours. They changed the locks and ORDERED two staffers out of the building!!! NAZIS!!!!!

Charges pending against SEVERAL participants!

[Rick Myers]

24. Malloy did 10 minutes on the story Friday Night!

Actually, two staffers were IN the building and ordered out by the Fundie Freaks!!!

[dmr]

26. Why weren't they arrested?

The article says pending arrests.

If this were a conservative station taken over by the left, there would be immediate hell to pay.

How can a man of the cloth justify perpetrating crime? Or is that a rhetorical question these days?

[BR_Parkway]

27. Kick and nominate for the morning crowd - these freaks are getting scarier

[confludemocrat]

29. As said here repeatedly, they are afraid of AAR (n/t)

[Rick Myers]

31. Update

This is a comment from someone who worked for Mike Arch several years ago. FYI: Mike Arch is a MINORITY OWNER in Beacon Broadcasting, the company that owns WANR/1570 Warren-Youngstown, OH. Beacon has signed an LMA (Lease Management Agreement) that turns complete control of the radio station over to Town Talk Productions, an organization I helped create and continue to consult.

Town Talk Productions switched the station to Air America (plus local liberal talk) about one month ago.

Mr. Arch ACTIVELY participated in the illegal seizure of the radio stations signal this week, along with several other Reich-wing Fundies. The first time they actually OCCUPIED the control room, changed locks and ordered two staffers out of the building. Police ended that stand-off after about 2 hours.

The next day, the stations STL Studio to Transmitter Link was disabled at the transmitter site. Keys were used to breach the fence surrounding the xmitter building, and keys were used to enter the building. Interference with a radio station operation is a FEDERAL crime and there WILL BE charges brought...

Any way, here's a comment from someone with direct experience with Mr. Mike Arch:

""Mike has an ability to hypnotize people into giving away their cash in return for nothing. That's the only explanation I have that makes any sense.

I briefly worked for him early in my career. I can safely tell you that I learned a lot about how *not* to run a radio station! He had no management skills, no ability to delegate authority (unless you were a 'yes man') and let's not forget about leaving for an extended vacation the first week of a new format! I suspect it was a trip funded by someone else's money.

There's plenty more to tell, but I'm getting a headache thinking about this idiocy. ""

on edit: spelling

[frictionlessO]

32. I am so ready to just go head to head with these types!

Just pull the trigger already you fascists!! You know you want to....oh you're afraid the world will see you for what you really are??

Thanks! Thats more time for us to get ready.




edit: clarity