4 AUG 08: FALLEN ARCHWAY

"Talkline is coming back," a caller assured me Sunday. The man sounded very certain about it -- yet very neutral. An elected official would have had a sad tone in his voice....

We haven't confirmed that caller's claim. But this much is certain: Archway Broadcasting is selling its four Columbus radio stations. The industry web sites we checked do NOT list a purchase price - but from what we know about the stations, the deal might have been "buy three, get WRCG free."

The proposed buyer of the four Archway radio stations is PMB Broadcasting - an apparently new company headed by long-time local radio man Jim Martin. Martin is still listed on the Clear Channel web site as the General Manager of its Columbus stations. So perhaps he took the money saved by dismissing Val McGuinness and ran....

That's what we know for sure. Beyond that, the radio rumors already are raging. In fact, if you can say that four times fast without stuttering, you might have a future in the radio business.

But anyway: Archway Broadcasting has some successful Columbus FM stations, which seem unlikely to change. WKCN "Kissin' 99.3" tends to be the top-rated country music station. And if WCGQ suddenly changed formats, countless teenage girls in love with the Jonas Brothers might stage a protest.

But the biggest buzz seems to surround what will happen with WRCG. The AM station has become almost a radio afterthought, because of several years of signal problems. Its nighttime signal has a mere 79 watts of power - which means the security lamps around Aflac could broadcast more effectively.

You'll recall WRCG dropped the morning phone-in show Talkline last year, leaving it with practically no local programming. The man who called me Sunday is sure that will change, once the Archway Broadcasting sale is official. In fact, I'm surprised this man didn't tip off Richard Hyatt first - since he used to host that show.

The caller pointed us to a new blog kept by longtime Talkline host Doug Kellett. He writes the program "was built on the idea of offering simple common sense." Not to mention opposing the spending of one or two cents on city improvement projects....

Doug Kellett is rooting for WRCG and the other Archway stations to make a comeback - but the man who called me Sunday wondered if Kellett might be part of that project. He's been filling in on talk radio stations in bigger cities, including substituting for one of Glenn Beck's prime replacements in San Antonio. So Kellett is only a Texas two-step away from national fame.

The caller also speculated about the new owners of Archway Broadcasting possibly moving the talk programs of WRCG to the FM dial. He suggested they could replace the oldies on WRLD "Boomer 95.3." Yes, we can say it now - if this caller is right, Boomer will be busted.

Boomer 95.3 already has done some shuffling. I didn't realize until Sunday that Alan Dupriest isn't on in the mornings anymore. All that's left of him is a YouTube clip with WRBL's Harmony Mendoza - which proves Archway Broadcasting didn't import his voice from Charlotte, the way it does with Bob and Sheri.

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION changed Sunday afternoon, to ask you about Talkline. Should it go back on the air in Columbus? Would it consist of simply the usual group of gripers? Or has Mike Gaymon's weekly "Viewpoint" show on WDAK revolutionized local talk radio that much?

As for our last question: a massive 93 percent of our voters said church congregations should have the right to vote out their pastors (13-1). Well, maybe I should correct that last sentence - since First Baptist Church of Phenix City wouldn't even think of keeping mass.

One voter in our poll made a good point about the divided vote to keep the Phenix City First Baptist Pastor: "I think if the atmosphere is that bad, the pastor should leave before it ever comes to a vote.... I would have no desire to pastor a church if I know a large portion of the people didn't want me there." Of course, that hasn't stopped President Bush from finishing his second term.

I can understand the concern some members had about having a "controlling pastor." Cascade Hills Church Pastor Bill Purvis returned this weekend from a month-long vacation -- and he videotaped messages, which were played while he was gone. It's like none of the other ministers on the staff are folksy and clever enough to give a sermon.

But once a congregation starts taking votes like this, where do you stop? If you change pastors, before long you might be voting on other officers - and if you're not careful, Jesus Christ might be replaced as "head of the church" by some guru from Sri Lanka.

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E-MAIL UPDATE: Our Sunday Blog Exclusive on the two METRA buses left running while parked for three-and-a-half hours brought quick responses. This one reached us first....

I bet those bus drivers down near the Riverwalk were told to leave their buses running to keep the AC going..I can understand a half hour run on ,so as not to have to start up the diesel again,but hours of run on is ridiculous..Did the director of Columbus transportation give that order or did it come from Ft.Benning since it was a mililtary affair? I can't image Ft B.using Columbus buses when they have nice buses to carry around dignitaries. I would like to close with this quesiton: Why does the Columbus city government continue to buy those huge buses and run them less than 1/4 full and sometimes empty? Maybe Olson and Coker need to take up this cause.

I'm assuming the orders to the METRA drivers came from the METRA management. If Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin reads a prepared statement of apology at Tuesday's Columbus Council meeting, that probably will confirm it.

If the METRA drivers needed air conditioning Saturday night, why didn't the military let them inside their Trade Center event? Restaurants such as Waffle House have been able to afford letting bus drivers eat free.

More people seem to be using METRA buses, in the wake of this year's record gas prices. Director Saundra Hunter recently told Dick McMichael's blog ridership is up seven percent this year. So we should give METRA a.... well, you know.... a fare chance.

Another e-mailer used METRA as a springboard to other topics:

Mr. Burkard,

I certainly appreciate the questions you raise on your Blog about things that don't look proper to you.

Keep it up.

Having operated a very large vehicle with a diesel engine for about 30 years. I have found that letting the engine idle for more than a few minutes does not save any more fuel than is required for a restart. An extended idle is only worth it in extremely cold conditions. Those buses were just wasting money, as has always been the way the city operated in the 50 + years that I resided there.

You have received some comments on Lee County Probate Judge English. In fairness , and as a balance, I feel compelled to state that I have appeared before him twice in the last 3-4 years and I got the impression that he was a very careful person in following the letter of the law. Also he was very forthcoming and helpful when we had questions. Of the two times that I have called his office, I asked to speak with his assistant. I was on hold less than a minute before she (Becky, I believe it is), took my call and helped me. On the second call a year or so later, she was out, but returned my call later in the day when she returned from court.

And finally,regular gas was $ 3.59 Sabbath evening , at the Castle station just south of Smiths Station.

D. Whitley

Phenix City (Lee County)

You know, maybe the bus drivers misunderstood their instructions. Maybe they were supposed to practice all evening for a singing contest called "METRA Idol."

And it's nice to know Probate Judge Bill English follows the "letter of the law." I might have to do the same thing from now on - and correspond with him by writing letters.

BUT SERIOUSLY: Our condolences to the friends and family of Skip Caray, who died Sunday in Atlanta. We met him briefly in the 1980s during our years with the CNN Networks -- and he offered a funny quip, as he became famous for doing. We'll share some of our favorite Caray lines later this week.

Today's main topic was the result of a blog reader's tip. To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 995 (- 38, 3.7%)

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

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