KSEM expected on air in September

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:

From the Columbia Basin Herald on Jan. 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 had been abandoned and that a site closer to town will be secured.

Dennis note: So, what was the meaning of the letters KSEM? K was a station west of the Mississippi. SEM was for Soap Lake, Ephrata and Moses Lake.

From the Moses Lake Herald on Aug. 29, 1941:

Local Moses Lake News

-Rev. Mr. Graler and Mrs. Graler arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 14, leaving here Aug. 11 and driving through.

-Mr. and Mrs. E.M. Leland and Mr. and Mrs. Erick Peterson were Spokane visitors last Thursday.