THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601260227
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
What's that old saying, ``you never miss your water until the well runs dry?'' That could have been said for WFOS-FM 88.7, the radio station of the Chesapeake public schools, when it was knocked off the air from Jan. 19-23rd.
The high winds caused by that fast moving front that swept through the area last Friday gave Virginia Power fits. Those power fits finally left the station without wattage.
``We had 60 to 65 mph winds out here and Virginia Power started zapping us, the power went on and off and finally we lost it,'' said the station's general manager Dennis McCurdy. ``It knocked the power supply to our satellite hookup.''
``Our emergency generator died when they tried to fire it up,'' said a frustrated David Desler, station engineer.
Unfortunately with all the power zapping on and off, it knocked out something else in the station's electronic equipment.
``Sensitive equipment can't take that,'' McCurdy said.
So when power was restored later that same day, the station was still off the air. A new fan in the power source was needed to bring the station back up, but that new part didn't come in until Tuesday.
It finally did come in and Desler got WFOS back on the air by 2:35 p.m. Tuesday.
That's when McCurdy and the rest of the station's staff discovered they were missed.
``You know, you do this day in and day out and sometimes you wonder if anyone's really listening,'' McCurdy mused.
He certainly found out, beginning last Monday. The station became inundated with phone calls.
``The calls were coming in hot and heavy,'' McCurdy said. ``It's a good feeling to get those calls. Whatever it is we do, many people seem to like it. I guess we needed to go off the air like this to see if we're really needed.''
McCurdy also found out about his station's popularity with Sunday morning listeners.
Every Sunday at 7 a.m., the station broadcasts, ``Sing For Joy,'' the syndicated inspirational musical program hosted by Alvin C. Reuter.
``We found out that Hampton Roads listeners sent in between $500 to $600 to the program,'' McCurdy said. ``The program does not do on-air solicitations, but listeners do send in contributions to keep it going. And the fact that people from here sent in that kind of money means folks are listening to us, even on Sunday mornings. That makes us feel good, too.''
McCurdy said ``Sing For Joy'' seems to be popular with listeners of many denominations.
``We hear from people that they enjoy the program because of the inspirational music,'' he said. ``They listen as they get ready to go to church.'' Steeler backer
Seems most oddsmakers are going with the flashy, splashy high profile Dallas Cowboys to take Super Bowl XXX today in the warmth of Tempe, Arizona.
But rest assured one local football fan is going against the slick Deion Sanders-led gridiron cowpokes.
He's retired Chesapeake Police first sergeant Joseph ``Joe'' Perry, father of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Darren Perry.
Darren Perry was a standout player for Deep Creek High School Hornets and went on to distinguish himself at Penn State University and now in the NFL.
``It's the Steelers all the way,'' Perry said without hesitation.
How about a prediction, Mr. Perry?
``28 to 14 for the Steelers,'' Perry shot back.
Perry planned to fly to Arizona on Friday to see his son play in today's big game.
``Hopefully, we'll get to see him and talk to him on Saturday, the day before the game,'' Perry said from his Deep Creek home.
In fact, Perry has dutifully attended every one of his son's home games in Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium this past season.
So how does his famous son feel about being in the biggest game in pro football?
``He's very excited, of course,'' the elder Perry said. ``After they won the AFC championship, it still hadn't sunk in yet that he's going to the Super Bowl.''
- Eric Feber by CNB