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In 1985,
there was a small radio station in Macclenny, Florida, that played country
music and church programs. Sarah and Greg Perich approached the owner and
bought the station on the same day they had inquired about it. This
required a move for the Perichs, who were
originally from Pennsylvania.
As the first order of business, the call letters,
WBKF, were changed to WJXR (Jacksonville Radio). Next, the format was
switched to fit the locale. Macclenny was a seemingly rural town at the
time, therefore, the country music format was kept. The catch phrase,
"Shark Country", was used and a logo was drawn up. The Perichs
kept church programming on Sundays and had their own morning show.
To be of a local service, The Bargain Channel®
Program was started as a once-a-week program. A Buyer's Number system was
incorporated to keep track of items and listeners. As more listeners tuned
in, the program hours increased. The Bargain Channel® became a 5-day
program that started at 8 a.m. and ended at 9 p.m. Country music would
still air overnight.
The growth of the radio station meant big changes
for the Perichs, who were accustomed to having to take care of four or
more jobs each. Listeners were quite often greeted and waited on by one of the owners
in the office. The staff was increased and the building was soon outgrown.
A move was in order. The location on West Macclenny Avenue was found; and
Greg Perich, his daughter, and an employee began work on creating what is
now the studio.
The
expansion of WJXR took place over the years by word of mouth, good
business practices, and community involvement. WJXR has since expanded
into other offices of the same West Macclenny Avenue location, maintained
a Westside Jacksonville office, and has brought convenience to listeners
by branching out with a Southside Jacksonville office. The transmitter was
switched, in 1993, from 6,000 watts to 25,000 watts to provide more
listeners with savings.
WJXR 92.1 FM soon became a household name in
Macclenny and surrounding Jacksonville. With notoriety came growth into
sports and news. WJXR became an affiliate of ABC Radio Networks and FRN, hosted
Florida Gator football, the local Baker County sports, Jacksonville Suns, Trinity
Christian Academy football, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Jacksonville
Tomcats.
The Bargain Channel® now
airs 7 days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight. The
staff includes more than 25 people, far from the two who first assumed all
titles. All offices are opened 7 days a week, times vary.
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