Copyright ©1996, RF Specialties Group.
The broadcasting community came through for KPAY AM/KMXI FM of Chico, Calif., after an electrical fire completely destroyed the stations' AM/FM studios and AM transmitter site on July 11. Stations in Chico bestowed engineering help, equipment manufacturers donated loaner equipment, and our own Bill Newbrough - RF Specialist of the San Francisco office - drove 150 miles and spent over a week in Chico to help KPAY/KMXI relocate to a recently vacated studio facility.
"We called Bill the day of the fire and he said he could be there that night with equipment," said KPAY/KMXI General Manager Dave Brower. Newbrough called on Nautel, Burk Technologies, Belar, Moseley and a number of equipment manufacturers as well as San Francisco stations KSFO and KOIT to donate loaner equipment. He then raided his own inventory and arrived in Chico with an armful of gear and rolled up his sleeves to help KPAY/KMXI Chief Engineer Dan Butner get the stations wired for sound again. Three days later, KMXI-FM was back on the air and nine days later KPAY-AM returned to air, after which time Newbrough returned to his office in San Francisco. "That's my job too, to help out whenever I can," remarked Newbrough.