[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S4008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WLNS-TV IN LANSING, MICHIGAN

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize WLNS-TV 
in Lansing, Michigan, a station which will celebrate its 50th 
Anniversary on May 18, 2000. For fifty years, Channel 6 has provided 
Lansing residents with a wonderful mix of local and national news, 
community events and information, and an assortment of entertaining and 
insightful programming.
  On May 1, 1950, WJIM-TV, Channel 6, signed on the air in Lansing, 
Michigan. The station was founded by Mr. Harold Gross, and for the next 
forty-four years he owned WJIM-TV. In 1984, Bakke Communications bought 
WJIM-TV, and changed the call letters to WLNS-TV. In 1986, the 
station's current owners, Young Broadcasting of Lansing, Inc., 
purchased WLNS-TV.
  Serving the Lansing community has always been, and remains, the first 
and foremost priority of WLNS-TV. Channel 6 covers 24 hours of local 
news per week. It broadcasts Town Hall meetings on important community 
issues; political debates; major high school and college sporting 
events; severe weather and school closing information; and regular 
announcements highlighting important activities for hundreds of non-
profit organizations in the community.
  As a C.B.S. affiliate, WLNS-TV is able to keep Lansing residents 
abreast of local as well as national and global events. In addition, 
Channel 6 offers C.B.S. entertainment programs and national sporting 
events. For instance, when the Michigan State University Men's 
Basketball Team won the N.C.A.A. Championship this past season, Lansing 
viewers turned to WLNS-TV not only to watch the games, but also to get 
local updates on their favorite team and its players.
  Mr. President, Channel 6 has been home to many prominent Lansing 
personalities over the years, including Martha Dixon, hostess of the 
cooking show ``The Copper Kettle''; Len Stuttman, host of ``The Many 
Worlds of Len Stuttman''; Bill Dansby, news anchor and news director in 
the 1960's; Howard Lancour, host of the children's show ``Alley Cat and 
the Mayor,'' and a news anchor in the 1970's; and Jane Aldrich and 
Sheri Jones, current news anchors who have 25 years of combined tenure 
at WLNS-TV.
  Mr. President, I applaud the many people whose efforts over the years 
have made this birthday possible. I think it is safe to say that the 
long term success of WLNS-TV is representative of how much Channel 6, 
and its many employees, mean to the Lansing community. On behalf of the 
entire United States Senate, I would like to wish WLNS-TV in Lansing, 
Michigan, a happy 50th Anniversary.

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