KRCU RECEIVES GRANT TO SPREAD SIGNAL

KRCU, the region's Public Radio affiliate station at Southeast Missouri State University, will receive a $105,492 federal grant that will allow the station's signal to reach a larger area.

KRCU officials said the money will be used to help purchase a new transmitter and antenna. The equipment is expected to increase the station's coverage area by 270 percent.

The transmitter and antenna will be installed on a commercial tower north of Cape Girardeau. The commercial tower is three times taller than the station's tower on the university campus.

The existing tower on Henderson Avenue will be used to relay the signal to the new antenna and transmitter, and as a backup in case of emergencies, said station manager Greg Petrowich.

Once purchased, the new equipment will be installed and tested as soon as tower crews can be scheduled and the weather permits.

The federal dollars will come from the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. The award will cover 75 percent of the $140,656 project cost. University and/or station funds will be used to match the grant.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, university president, praised U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, for her efforts in helping to secure federal funding.

"This grant is going to give KRCU a major boost in extending its reach and brining the outstanding programming that it already offers to so many more people in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois."

Petrowich said that once the upgrade is completed, listeners in Perryville, Marble Hill, Sikeston and Jonesboro, Ill., will receive a much stronger signal.

The 90.9 FM signal could extend as far as Ste. Genevieve, Fredericktown and possibly Paducah, Ky., Petrowich said.