KCHA (AM)

Fabulous 1580 KCHA=AM

City of license	Charles City, Iowa
Broadcast area	Charles City, Iowa, Floyd County, IA
Branding	"Fabulous 1580 "
Slogan	"The Fab Oldies Channel "
Frequency	1580 KHz
Format	Oldiea
Power	500 watts (daytime) 10 watts (nighttime)
Class	D
Facility ID	41102
Transmitter coordinates	43°03′05.0″N 92°40′00.0″W
Owner	North Iowa Broadcasting, LLC (Coloff Media, LLC)
Sister stations	KCHA-FM, KCHA (AM), KCZE-FM, KLKK-FM, KSMA-FM, KIOW, KHAM, KCVM-FM, KCNZ, KMCH
Webcast	KCHA-AM Livestream
Website	KCHA-AM Online

Fabulous 1580 (KCHA) is a Oldies formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Charles City, Iowa, serving Charles City & Floyd County as well as North Central and North Eastern Iowa. KCHA is owned and operated by North Iowa Broadcasting, LLC.

Deadly Tornado

1580 KCHA provided a major community service on May 15th of 1968. A tornado tore through Charles City, destroying over half the town and killing 13 residents and injuring hundreds. One of the largest twisters ever recorded in the state, the storm destroyed much of the downtown – 256 businesses and 1,250 homes. Damage estimates of more than $20 million only told part of the story; the cost in human suffering was much greater than that. KCHA was warning people of the incoming storm when the tornado struck. After power was knocked out, station personnel installed an emergency generator at the transmitter site on Stony Point Road and was back on the air later that evening.

Here's a story from the Charles City Press from back in 1968.

RADIO VIGIL MAINTAINED WITH AID OF VOLUNTEERS - Source Charles City Press (publishing date unknown in 1968)

Residents throughout Charles City and Floyd County affected by last week’s tornado were kept well abreast of developments through the facilities of KCHA. Vern Bromberg, station manager told a Press reporter Monday afternoon that a total of 28 persons volunteered service during the crucial days following the storm to keep urgent messages and information flowing.

“I can’t express my appreciation enough.” Bromberg said ”to these people for the remarkable job they did. It’s difficult to name them all right now and I know there will be some I omit, but we had typists, announcers, citizens band operators and information gatherers that did a tremendous job.”

Some of the local persons Bromberg mentioned were Ron Phillips, Bill Happle, Brian Ross, Mrs. Rosemary Osler, Donna Sullivan and Elaine Cross, Dick Snider, a former employee of KCHA now with a radio station at Fort Dodge also came into town and sat mike-side for a number of hours Saturday. In addition Bromberg stated that his daughter Pam and son Harry worked throughout the entire period. Pam, a sophomore at the University of Iowa, returned home Wednesday night and assisted in the office work and typing.

An interesting sidelight to the activities of KCHA during the disaster broadcasting was the fact that Program Director Jim Barker managed to complete long planned wedding ceremonies with Carol Page. The couple was married at Rudd Saturday afternoon but Jim worked right up to noon Saturday broadcasting news and information. Bromberg explained that the final radio warning before the storm was issued by him following a call from Mrs. George Scrimgeour, 227 Charles St. and Bromberg immediately passed along the information over the air. Within seconds, the wind began to rise and the last transmitted words were those of News Director John Philip who exclaimed, “My God, It’s here!”

Bromberg stated that the entire staff dashed to the basement to seek safety in a vault located there. (The building at one time had been occupied by Commercial Trust and Savings Bank. ) As he passed the back door, Bromberg yanked it open and he attributed the light damage to the station to that action.

“You know, you always hear that you should open windows and doors if you have time so that pressure can be somewhat equalized.” Bromberg observed. “Well, that thought ran through my mind so I yanked the door open before running downstairs and I really think that helped keep the damage down.” He explained the front door was open because of the heat and humidity of Wednesday afternoon.

Damage to the downtown facilities of KCHA were “limited, compared to some of the other stores.” Bromberg stated that some roof damage has been deteded as well as minor equipment damage. “The front window of the station was blown out. Broadcasting operations were returned to the station Monday afternoon.

The station had gone off the air just prior to the tornado’s strike but with an emergency power supply began broadcasting at 7:40 p.m. Wednesday evening. They remained on the air throughout the night and until regular signoff time the following evening at 8:30.

Broadcasting operations were conducted at the transmitter site on Stoney Point Road. Emergency power was supplied by a unit donated by Dick Tector with an output of 180-200 watts; less than half of needed wattage. At 1:30 Thursday morning Iowa Public Service Co. had provided an emergency line and the emergency equipment was released.

Bromberg commended the disaster workers for their efforts. “No matter what we asked for (meaning for disaster victims or assistance) we immediately received an in most cases more than enough. It sound’s corny, but it was like the open hand of God. Everybody responded tremendously.”

Bromberg also expressed thanks to persons, many of who failed to identify themselves, for bringing in food and beverages to the personnel over and above that which was brought in by the disaster teams. </ref>

Transmission Location

The KCHA transmitter is located on Stony Point Road in Charles City, right off Business 218 near K-Mart.

Programming

The station broadcasts a Oldies format.

KCHA also produces a special themed weekend on the weekends.

Broadcast Signal

The KCHA signal streches from Forest City to West Union & Austin MN south to Waterloo during the day. At night, the signal covers Floyd County, IA.

External links

• Fabulous 1580 Online
• Query the FCC's AM station database for KCHA
• Radio-Locator Information on KCHA
• Query Arbitron's AM station database for KCHA