Local radio station purchased by Genoa station owner

Jerry Evans, owner of KGVM in Genoa, purchased Carson City's KPTL AM radio station from Holder Hospitality Group Inc., a Nevada gaming company.

"I think it's a great opportunity to have what is basically the only AM/FM in the Carson and Eagle valleys," he said. "All the others have gone to Reno."

Evans said he doesn't expect to make any major changes after the transition is completed, about May 1.

He promises a good news focus in addition to continuing many of KPTL's programming staples, including "The Heart of the City," with Mayor Ray Masayko; "Keep Talking," a program featuring interviews with local teenagers and "Talk in the Morning with Imus."

"There are always some changes, but sometimes you don't know what they are until you walk in the door. We'll be doing some technical upgrades and increase the power, making the kinds of changes that the market dictates," he said. "We'll continue to make the station better, but we'll stay with the format as it is.

"I believe in solid local community broadcasting," Evans said.

Raised in California, Evans entered the radio business May 1, 1974, when he became a disc jockey in Coalinga, Calif. He worked many major markets including Chicago, Minneapolis and Seattle before purchasing his first station in Lakeport, Calif., in 1988.

He owned stations in places like Springfield, Mo., and Bangor, Maine, until his retirement in 2000. He called that period a two-year vacation.

"I still love radio," he said. "It's a disease, not a career."

Evans Broadcast Co. Inc. purchased KGVM in Genoa from Lloyd Higuerra in October for $850,000.

He recently filed for a power increase for that station, from 3,000 watts to 25,000.

"It will allow us to put a bigger, better signal over Carson City and Douglas County. Eventually, we hope to move into the South Lake Tahoe market," he said. "We'll also be increasing the power at KPTL, but we haven't determined how much. We'll know more after our studies are done over the next couple of weeks."

Evans would not disclose the sale price.

Holder Hospitality owns Sharkey's Casino in Gardnerville, the Silver Club Hotel-Casino in Sparks, Charlie Holder's Casino Restaurant and Bar in Henderson, Fernley Truck Inn & Casino in Fernley, El Capitan Casino Resort in Hawthorne, Sundance Casino and Model "T" Casino RV Resort in Winnemucca and a statewide slot route.

The company's new acquisitions, Piper's Casino in Silver Springs and Mary's and Moe's Wigwam in Fernley, are pending gaming approval.

Ron Cheney, one-time general manager at KPTL for Holder Hospitality Group Inc., is suing Harold Holder Sr., owner of Holder and Casino Radio, LLC in Washoe County's Second Judicial District Court.

Cheney claims Holder wrongfully breached his employment contract when they fired him Sept. 10, 2002. He started working at the station in August of that year.

"The contract contained an express job description and provided that Defendants would employ Cheney for a period of no less than 90 days, thus creating an express obligation that Defendants would not terminate Cheney's employment in the absence of just cause," the lawsuit alleges.

Under the contract, Holder was to pay Cheney $5,000 per month and unlimited gas trade. Cheney is asking for no less than $9,232 in special damages, $10,000 in general damages, $10,000 in punitive damages, attorney's fees and any other relief the court deems proper.

Bruce Dewing, president of the Holder Co., was not available for comment Wednesday.

Contact Susie Vasquez at svasquez@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.