Kokomo radio station shutting down, Z92.5 relocated as station building goes up for sale

Hoosier AM/FM Radio ends an era in Kokomo and Howard County history as it will take WIOU AM Radio off the air Sat., May 31.

WIOU is the evolution of WKMO radio, which was the call sign for Kokomo’s first radio station. Its broadcast took place at 1350 on the AM radio dial.

The station is operated by 3 Towers Broadcasting, along with WZWZ FM, known as Z92.5. It also operates WMYK Rock 98.5, which is based in Peru, Ind. The company announced last August its intent to purchase the three stations from Hoosier AM/FM, though the transaction was never filed with the Federal Communications Commission.

That did not stop those in control from putting the “Radio Ranch” property along State Road 26 up for sale earlier this year. The property includes the radio towers that are used to broadcast WIOU.

WIOU was known as the home of Kokomo High School sports for decades, and it continued to broadcast live coverage of football and basketball games until just prior to its announced demise. 3 Towers announced that this coverage will migrate to Z92.5.

Where Z92.5 will broadcast from has not been disclosed, though it will continue to call Kokomo its base of operations. The station announced its departure from the “Radio Ranch” on May 15. Sources directly connected to the situation disclosed that the company’s Kokomo operations now consist of just a single employee, longtime radio announcer and producer Rob Rupe.

Stevie Riggs, who managed operations for the stations and served as on-air talent for Rock 98.5, announced his departure from the company on May 15. Shortly thereafter, 98.5 went off the air on May 21. Station management reported that its transmitter was struck by lightning. It has been off the air ever since.