Business Directory

Founded by one of the leading broadcasters in Maine at the time, the ever-dynamic Elden H. “Denny” Shute, formerly a TV and radio personality in Lewiston and Portland markets, the station became the leading “must listen to” station in West Central Maine.

Though popular music programming has always been a mainstay, Shute’s leadership also included introducing into the Franklin County area live broadcasts of local news and sports while at the same time affiliating with UPI wire and Mutual Broadcasting news services.

From being on the scene at town meetings, celebratory parades to being the longest running carrier of Boston Red Sox play by play action to its stellar broadcasts of local high school sporting events it’s been a signature player in such programming.

A legendary human interest highlight in the first decade was organization in 1968 by News Director Larry Bisbee and nationally acclaimed local folk singer Jud Strunk of Farmington’s Instant Fourth of July Parade.

With Shute taking leave of his management duties in the same year, 1968, to pursue prominent positions in government – including service as a state senator and Deputy Maine Secretary of State – management past to long time Maine Sportscaster Linn Wells of Wilton.

Among the other early announcers in its early years were Col Wilkins, Bruce Hunter, Jim Sweet, and Kerryl “Lee” Clement, all of whom moved on to illustrious careers at other broadcasting venues, Clement most recently having just wound up his second term on the Lewiston City Council.

In the late 1960’s too were such future luminaries as Ed Morin, later a mainstay with Maine Public Broadcasting, local Jeweler Jack Anderson, local attorney and feature news columnist Paul Mills, and Steve Hammond, Hammond later becoming an international lawyer and president of the International Law Association based in Manhattan.

By 1973 KATIE-J moved also to the FM dial at its present 99.3 frequency, eventually by the mid 1980’s relinquishing the AM frequency altogether.

It was in the late 1970’s that both management and ownership passed to Alfredo Ibarguen, “Al’s” brother, Bruce, being the play-by-play anchor for over 25 years for local high school sporting events.

By the early 1980’s through his death in 2009 one of the more recognized KATIE-J announcers and salespersons was award winning humorist, author and newspapers columnist Steve Bull.

Recent years have demonstrated continuing resiliency under the leadership of Rick Davis and Jim Talbott, Talbott also operating the station in tandem with Millinocket’s WSYY.  Changes have included the doubling of the KTJ’s power from 3Kw to 6Kw and the installation of new equipment including a state-of-the-art solid state transmitter to increase KTJ’s coverage area and provide better service to the Franklin County area and beyond.

*Historical contribution by Paul H. Mills, Esq.