KSEM, now KBSN is nearing 70

E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

Forgive the interruption of our 1941 coverage, folks, but, as is the normal Bits & Pieces method of operation, we are allowed to jump around a bit from time to time, depending upon something different or special arriving at this desk.

This is one such event: The 70th birthday of Moses Lake’s first radio station. You see Moses Lake’s oldest radio station and I have a birth year in common. We both arrived in the Columbia Basin in 1947. Originally it was KSEM for Soap Lake, Ephrata and Moses Lake. The nickname was Kiss‘em.

Note the original date to be on air was March 15, but, for whatever reason, it was delayed until September, but the exact date wasn’t sure in these two articles. Read on.

From the CBH on Jan. 3, 1947:

Station KSEM on air March 15

KSEM, Grant County’s first radio station, is expected to go on the air by March 15.

Construction of the transmitter is to begin Jan. 15 on the lake shore in Cascade Valley just east of the Moses Lake Country Club.

These were the announcements this week of Edward J. Jansen, one of the owners, who will move here from Seattle and operate the station.

The call letters stand for Soap Lake, Ephrata and Moses Lake, which takes in the main area to be served by the station, Jensen said. The station will operate at 450 kilocycles.

Jensen and Jessica L. Longston of Seattle are principal stockholders of the organization, which will operate the station, he said.

When Jensen moves here, he will bring with him his wife, Edith, and their three children, Anne, 9, Geraldine, 5, and Barbara, 2.

From the CBH on June 13, 1947:

Radio station due on airways by September

Plans to have Moses Lake’s first radio station, KSEM, on the air by September were made this week by Miss Jessica Longston, principal owner in the venture, after local support was pledged by a group of interested citizens who met with her Friday night in the Purple Sage Club.

A campaign to raise $5,000 among Moses Lake residents to be converted into preferred stock in the new corporation neared completion this week. In charge of the signup are Charles Bedford, J.H. Fultz and Wally Morris.

Miss Longston, who operates stations in Burley, Idaho, and Havre, Mont., and is installing another in Bellingham, said the Cascade Valley location for the tower and transmitter has been abandoned and that a site closer to town will be secured.

From the Moses Lake Herald on Aug. 14, 1941:

Grant and Adams county briefs

Mae-Hiawatha news

-Mrs. And Mrs. Woodhouse pioneers of this community are visiting their sister in law, Mrs. Lizabeth Ceis.

-Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ebel returned from California where they have been visiting their friends and relatives. Mrs. Ebel will spend a week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Goodwin before returning to her home at Electric City.

From the CBH on Nov. 11, 1975:

Permit sale opens

Officials of the Wenatchee National Forest today reminded potential Christmas tree cutters that a limited number of $1 individual permits are being issued by Forest Ranger districts.

Permits, which must be obtained in advance of cutting, entitle the holder to cut one tree on designated National Forest areas.

Individuals who wish to cut trees on private land must, under state law, obtain permission from the landowner and must have a bill of sale with them when transporting such trees.

Christmas tree cutters are reminded that many forest areas are already wet or snowy. Vehicles should have good treaded tires and carry chains, a shovel and a good jack just in case they are needed. Clothing should be suitable to ward off cold and wet weather.

Coin show announced

The Tri-City Coin Club will sponsor its 15 the Atomic Coin Pow Wow at the Red Lion Motor Inn, 2525 N. Chase, in Pasco on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15 and 16.

There will be exhibits of coins, currency and metals. Dealers from the northwest will operate tables for buying and selling.

Admission is free. Doors will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.