EFFORT BEING MADE TO SECURE BLACK RADIO STATION IN REGION

Joe Hatchett wants to establish a radio station in Cape Girardeau that would provide musical and cultural programing for blacks.

Hatchett's company, Masters Communications Network Inc., hopes to establish Cape's first black-owned and operated radio station.

Hatchett said Friday that a community survey and engineering study will be done as part of an effort to secure a special frequency license from the Federal Communications Commission license.

The goal is to establish a 100,000-watt FM station in Cape Girardeau, which would serve black residents in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and western Kentucky.

"We will settle for what we can achieve, but we are aiming at the best," said Hatchett, who hopes the station could be operating within three years.

"We want a station that we can call our own," said Hatchett, who is promoting the venture at this weekend's River Heritage Regional Black Family Reunion in Cape Girardeau.

"We will be into rap, blues and jazz." Much of the air time would be devoted to cultural and religious programming.

Said Hatchett, "It is just a gold mine waiting to be tapped."