News:
North Carolina News Network at: 55 after each hour; local reports as
needed.
Weather:
North Carolina News
Network Weather Center. Local forecasts with regional outlook from AMS
meteorologists.
Sports Programming:
North Carolina
Monday-Saturday, 7:25
News Network
Sports Extra
Saturday 11:00-11:05 am
Special Programming:
“Good Morning,
Charlie”…
Monday-Saturday 8-9:30am
Hosted by Charlie Fowler,
listener call-in program
“Southern Gospel Concert Update”
Monday-Friday 12:30-12:35pm
“Carolina Gospel Showcase”…
Saturday,
10:35-11:00 am hosted by
Lottie Squires; features local
gospel artists
“Gospel Greats” …
Saturday, 12:00n – 2:00pm; nationally syndicated program, hosted by
Paul Heil. Features current hits and special interviews with Southern
Gospel artists.
“Gospel Music Countdown”…
Sunday,
4:00 – 5:00 pm; syndicated; hosted by Ron Marshall and Bridget Cannon;
current hits and special features; Black Gospel
Community
Involvement:
WCKB works closely with the Dunn Area Chamber of Commerce; the station
also maintains membership in several area Chambers of Commerce.
WCKB
is involved in area events, such as the General William C. Lee
Celebration in Dunn and the Annual State Singing Convention in Benson.
WCKB
carries weekly public
affairs programming from the local Health department, Council on Aging,
and Extension Service; the local and state Employment Security
Commission, and the regional Social Security Administration office.
As a public service, WCKB
promotes activities of local churches and civic organizations, as well
as other special events.
On-Air Staff:
Charlie Fowler, Ron Tart, Margie Hughes, Lottie Squires, Graden
Blackman, Sheree Parker, Roger Layaou, Al Myatt, Durant Cameron, Neal
Wood.
Engineer: William “Bill”
Lambert
On March 11, 1946, three prominent Dunn
businessmen, Loftin A. Tart, Sr., Earl McDonald Westbrook, and Thomas R.
Hood, seeing the need for local radio coverage, associated themselves
into a corporation under the name of North Carolina Central
Broadcasters, Inc.
The
first meeting of the Board of Directors was held at 3:00 PM March 15,
1946. At this meeting a set of bylaws was adopted and officers of the
corporation were elected as follows: Earl McD. Westbrook, President;
Leslie H. Campbell, Vice President; and A. Hartwell Campbell,
Secretary/Treasurer.
At
11:15 am, December 6th, WCKB began broadcasting on a
frequency of 780 kHz and a power of 1,000 watts. The first song played
on WCKB was the National Anthem, followed by the song, “Tiger Rag.”
In
a meeting of the Board of Directors held February 20, 1958, A. Lincoln
Faulk, General Manager, announced that WCKB won the Freedom Foundation
Award for the best program, “Editorial Opinion” by John G. Thomas,
News Director and commentator of WCKB. “Editorial Opinion” by John
G. Thomas became so popular and so widely accepted that over the years
it won a total of eleven Freedom Foundation Awards for WCKB.
During
the first twenty-five years of operation, WCKB featured a variety of
formats which included big band, easy listening, pop, and rock n’
roll. Special emphasis was always placed on news, especially local news
and weather, as well as talk programs.
During
the 1980’s, WCKB moved to a Gospel Music format which continues today
and features today’s hit Southern Gospel music.
In
1989, Charles L. Fowler purchased WCKB from Mrs. Alice T. Bagget and her
son, Robie Butler. Since then, General Manager, Ronald C. Tart has
become part owner of the company.