For WLNC(AM) owners Gary and Terry Gallman, a fallen tower is just another challenge to overcome.
The station is licensed to operate from a single tower in the North Carolina Sandhills. When a tree-trimming accident toppled down the tower this month, the station relied on its community roots to help it stay on the air.
At 1300 AM, Laurinburg’s “Hometown Radio” has been on the air since 1962 from the tower just east of downtown. It runs 500 watts during the day and 74 watts at night.
Lumbee River Electric Membership Corp. provides power to WLNC. Gary Gallman said the power company hired tree services to clear property near the station.
“In the process, the tree company apparently hit one of the guy wires for the AM tower, causing it to collapse into three twisted parts,” Gallman told us.
WLNC’s FM translator on 95.1 is located on the nearby Scotland County communications tower, but the microwave dish used to feed its signal was mounted on the collapsed AM tower.
“So we were out of business,” Gallman said.
The tower collapsed at 10 a.m. July 16. By noon, Gallman posted pictures on social media to notify listeners. The local newspaper, the Laurinburg Exchange, also covered the incident.
Gallman said the outpouring of support was heartening. “We were reminded of how important our station is to the local community,” he said.
To get the station back on the air so quickly, Gallman had support.
“We are indebted to two consulting engineers, Jim Heim and Ted Fuller, who have helped us get up and running on a temporary basis,” he said.
The Gallmans purchased WLNC in 2010 from Fred Fox — “the voice of Scotland County” — who had operated the station since 1989 and served as the primary morning host. In 2014, the station added the 250-watt FM translator, providing its first FM signal on 95.1.
The station airs a mix of adult contemporary, oldies and beach music, a Carolina staple. The band Jim Quick & Coastline traces its origins to the station, Gallman said, with three of the original group members having spent time at WLNC.
“Our station was the location of their early rehearsals,” he said.
Since buying the station, the couple has capitalized on its local footprint. It airs a daily 30-minute interview program, “Live on Main Street,” from its downtown studio, and carries play-by-play coverage for the Scotland High School Fighting Scots football team.
Back with a long-wire antenna
On July 21, WLNC applied for FCC authority to operate its AM signal at reduced power using a long-wire antenna, while using an IP-based link to feed the FM translator.
Gallman said he is working with the tree service’s insurance company and looking for a contractor to replace the tower.
Gallman also credited longtime staff members like news director and on-air host Sandy Callan, who has been with WLNC since 1988.
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