[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 102 (Thursday, July 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            TRIBUTE TO WJGA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 17, 1997

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a small town, 
community-minded radio station. Every morning in my hometown of 
Jackson, GA, something happens that is as anticipated as the sunrise. 
In fact, this daily ritual is shared by most of the residents of 
Jackson, one which reflects the tightness of its community bonds. 
Friendship like this can be found in all the facets of Jackson life, 
but especially when citizens tune into local radio station 92.1 FM, 
WJGA each day.
  When the hands of local Georgians turn their radio dials to this 
station, the two men they hear in the morning don't echo the usual 
shock-jock type material that has come to characterize talk radio. 
Instead, audience members are treated to the down-home kindness of 
hosts Don Earnhart and Walter Carmichael. From these two, listeners are 
not only treated to the local news of Butts and Jasper counties, but 
also to the intangibles not measured by watt meters or ratings scales, 
things like friendship and allegiance.
  Earnhart recently explained, ``Our listeners get to know us.'' They 
do soon in much the same manner as two people sitting on a park bench 
talking about the day. Topics might concern the menu at a local cafe or 
the politics of a balanced budget. With a format that is comprised of 
completely live programming, these two wizards of the airwaves provide 
the one quality representative of friendship, personal attention. As 
Bill Osinski of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution recently said of 
this idea, ``A radio station that respects its listeners--how 
refreshing.'' His enthusiasm for work has not faded after all these 
years, and with his wife Susanne working as the station's business 
manager, the two not only make great radio, but a great team as well.
  Now, as the world continues to move at such a brisk pace, it is also 
refreshing to note that there are some folks content to do things the 
old-fashioned way. They don't need flashy logos or slogans. They don't 
need absurd or appalling subject matter. They simply need people like 
Don Earnhart and Walter Carmichael, people who care enough to care for 
others. How refreshing indeed.

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