Amigos Prepare To Hit The Air On CKXSFM 99.1FM!

Five Amigos Broadcasting is ready to send the New 99.1 CKXS FM to the airwaves in Wallaceburg, Dresden and area. October 20, 2009 marks the date a great line-up of well-known DJs and around-the-clock programming comes to a radio near you. [Bios and schedule included at end of release.]

“We’re very proud of The New 99.1 FM and the important contributions it will make to this community, and to music, local news and sports in Wallaceburg, Dresden and area,” said Dana Treacy, Program Director and mid-day show host of the new station. “The New 99.1 FM will make radio uniquely personal to local listeners.”

99.1 FM, also known under its call letters, CKXS, will establish deep ties to the local community and local music scene while serving as a positive force in building the creative economy of Wallaceburg and surrounding area. CKXS will entertain and inform audiences with the best music of today, drawn from a wide variety of genres that reflect contemporary society and our diverse forms of musical expression. The station is also committed to providing a venue for local musicians and bands providing them wide exposure that would not otherwise be available.

Beyond its broad musical palette, 99.1 FM will bring news and information into greater focus for a new audience of local radio listeners. The station will launch principally as a music station playing a few thousand songs in a row (commercial free). While the music itself will always be primary, over time the broadcast schedule will become more complex, with added commentaries, local and national sports, news and other features that will make the station increasingly distinctive and compelling.

“It takes a talented staff to create this new station, and we’re very proud of the people who will bring The New 99.1 FM to our listeners,” says Gary Patterson, co-GM and News Director. “We’ve gathered people from within the community to create a unique format and a unique sound.”

Effective Tuesday morning, CKXS Radio’s popular musical variety program will be heard in Wallaceburg, Dresden and area exclusively on 99.1 FM and will soon be streaming online at www.ckxsfm.com .

The New 99.1 FM CKXS

Full-time staff

Gary Patterson (General Manager / News Director)

Gary was born in Chatham,Ontario but was raised in Thamesville,Ontario by parents Ken and Olga Patterson along with five brothers and sisters. Gary attended high school in Dresden and did his post secondary studies at Lambton College in Sarnia in the Radio/Television/Journalism Program and also attended the University of Windsor, studying English and History.

Patterson is the proud father of a six-year-old daughter, Emma!

Gary has worked in media his whole life including newspapers with the Chatham Daily News and Bothwell Times. His radio background includes 15 years as Sports Director with CKSY and CFCO in Chatham.

Patterson has also owned and operated PCS Courier Service since 1993.

He has volunteered his time with many charities including presently being the Board President of the Chatham-Kent Children’s Safety Village. Gary as also volunteered for the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Canadian Cancer Society, Lung Association, Heart and Stroke, United Way and many more.

Gary loves sports and has done play-by-play for Jr B hockey ands has also been a colour commentator for the Sarnia Sting on national broadcasts.

Gary’s favourite sports teams include the University of Michigan Wolverines, New York Yankees, Toronto Maple Leafs and Miami Dolphins.

Greg Hetherington (General Manager & Morning Show Host)

Greg is from Thamesville (seemingly like a good portion of CKXS employees – they raise them well in T-ville). He has worked in Radio for 20 years. Stating at CFCO, and spending the rest of his life at CKSY in Chatham, Greg was given the opportunity to branch out and open up a new station in Wallaceburg.

“It was a great fit, to live and work in a tight nit community like Wallaceburg,” says Hetherington. “Being active in the community is what I do well. I always thought that getting involved was something that you didn’t need a lot to talent to do, so doing that was easy. The more you get involved in a community, the more you want to help. I hope that we at CKXS can do great things in the Wallaceburg area.”

Greg is newly married to a woman that loves radio, loves meeting people, and is the backbone of this radio venture. “When I asked her if she wanted to move to Wallaceburg and be a part of the community, Kelly jumped in feet first. It says a lot about who she is”

“We love Wallaceburg. Love the downtown, and most importantly, love the people. There are so many good people in this area. We plan on telling their story on a regular basis on the morning show on CKXS.”

Jay Smith (Music Director & Afternoon Drive Announcer)

A proud resident of Thamesville, Jay Smith is a young, community-driven, sports nut eager to help you end the work day and be a strong component of CKXS radio.

Graduating with Honours as an Ontario Scholar from LKCS in Dresden, Smith then continued his post-secondary education in Kitchener, ON. Smith took home several top news writing, sports writing, reporting and broadcasting awards on route to graduating at the top of his class on the Dean’s Honour List from Conestoga College’s Journalism & Broadcasting program.

Smith has spent the past five years working in local radio, mainly with CFCO as an on air announcer and technical producer. Jay looks forward to a long future with CKXS and is more than grateful for the opportunity to join the local audience daily, especially with such a respected group of co-workers.

“This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting on for quite some time. I don’t think it’s humanly possible to explain how excited and anxious I am to be a part of this,” said Smith. “We have an amazing group of people working together here and to be a piece of the puzzle, especially from the ground up, is pretty special.”

Smith spends time away from his microphone and office desk as a coach and team manager for the local midget baseball and hockey clubs in Dresden. He can also be found bouncing all over Ontario on weekends with his involvement in professional wrestling.

Join Jay weekday afternoons from 2PM-7PM as he gets you ready to end your day properly – with The New 99.1 CKXS!

Dana Treacy (Program Director, Production Manager, and Mid-day Show Host)

Dana, a Wallaceburg resident, grew up in Thamesville and graduated from John McGregor Seconday School. Pursuing a career in radio after graduating from Fanshawe’s Radio Broadcasting Program, Dana became a very a familiar voice on The Rock 95.1 and could be heard on many commercials on various Blackburn Radio Inc. stations. Dana has created her own niche as a talented, headstrong and capable producer and is a key piece of the CKXS puzzle. Dana is an active community volunteer and can be found at Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo on the nights Cystic Fobrosis is hosting. As new residents to Wallaceburg Dana, her husband John and their dog Jake are excited to be a part of the community and Dana is looking forward to the small commute and working in her new home town .

Chris Prince (News Anchor / Reporter)

Chris grew up on a farm in North Buxton and graduated from John McGregor Seconday School. Prince attended York University where he graduated with a BA in History. Experienced in local community radio and television, Chris has spent time as a technical producer, sports analyst and commentator and as a live reporter. A strong component of the future of CKXS FM, management is more than excited to add Chris Prince’s name to the class act team at 99.1. A proud local young man, Chris can still be found get’n er done on the family farm.

Laura Wrigglesworth (Creative Director)

Laura heads up the Creative Department at The New 99.1FM CKXS. After graduating with honours from Ursuline College, “The Pines,” Laura attended the University of Windsor. Missing the community of Chatham-Kent, she returned home and pursued a career in radio, behind the scenes as Creative Writer, and then Director, in Chatham. After a brief break in radio, Laura is extremely happy to be back in the business, and couldn’t imagine working for a better company. “CKXS is committed to making our community a better place, and this is reflected in our exceptional staff and management. I look forward to the many great opportunities that our station will bring to Wallaceburg and surrounding area.”

You may see Laura on the ice around Chatham-Kent and Lambton Counties, as she is also a Professional Figure Skating Instructor.

Lachlan Kennedy (Sales Manager)

Attended Chatham-Kent Secondary School and formerly worked in sales for 95.1 The Rock. Lachlan lives in Chatham with his wife Jamie and son Nolan. He is also the founder of Rockstock and promotes various concerts and local events. An experienced sales representative, Lachlan can take care of any interested local advertisers. To get in touch with Lachlan you can call the station or email lkennedy@ckxsfm.com.

Rochelle Snobelen (Office Manager)

Rochelle grew up in Tilbury and graduated from Ursuline College in Chatham. She has now been residing in Thamesville for the past 15 years with her husband Bob and two daughters Jami and Allison. An active community volunteer, Rochelle can often be found coaching her daughters’ travel baseball team through the summer or at local hockey rinks through the fall and winter.

Hector Card (Technical Engineer)

Originally from the East Coast and formerly working for CHUM in Toronto and London, Hector is married to his wife Carrie and has four children. He is heavily involved in coaching his children’s sporting teams (soccer and hockey) and is the mastermind of anything technical in our Wallaceburg studio.