WLDR-FM 101.9 Traverse City, MI,simulcast on WARD 750 Petoskey, MI, is a station that airs a country musicformat as "Sunny Country 101.9WLDR-FM signed on in 1966 by Rod Maxson, awell-known businessman in Traverse City along with Robert L. Greaige who was then749rh@att.blackberry.net n749rh@gmail.com, the city's dealership. Even though they're country today, WLDR carried somesort of adult contemporary format for its first 38 years. The station's callletters stood for "Long Distance Radio", suitable since theybroadcasted at 100 kW.In 1972, Maxson sold a majority of WLDR toone of his salesmen, Don Wiitala, who owned the station for more than 30 years.Wiitala was a beloved broadcaster known for giving the station a home-spunimage. WLDR was a station that has many aspects of many full-service stations;the station, although licensed to broadcast 24 hours, signed on in the morningand signed off at night, aired local high school sporting events, had a"radio" show – Wiitala even sold his old house on the show – andplayed music Wiitala found suitable for his audience.Maxson also sold a minority of WLDR to hisson, Dave Maxson, who served as the station's news director. He remains withWLDR to this day though he sold his stake in the station years ago.Throughout the 1970s, WLDR was coined"Stereo 102". Some say that Wiitala was frugal in the way he ran WLDR;he would go to the local  (a now-defunct grocery/retail outlet with a chainof stores in central and northern Michigan) in Traverse City (now Tom's FoodMarket and Dunham Sports Outfitters) and buy 45s cheap off the rack. The sametactics were employed in the purchase of LPs. Only obscure record labels wouldsufn749rh@att.blackberry.net n749rh@gmail.comfice along with artists from a bygone era. The syndicated John Doremus showaired 4 hours each day. Northern Michigan's first call-in talk show,"Listen to the Mrs." aired weekday afternoons.In the 1980s, WLDR changed its name to"Sunny 102" to update the station's image.Throughout the 1990s, WLDR was part of adying breed: one-station owners. Also, in the age of 24-hour formats, thestation signed on at 5 a.m. and signed off at 1 a.m. Although the stationpromoted a 'family-friendly' image, the station would play a few alternativerock artists, such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and even U2. However, the stationwas losing major ground to Trish MacDonald-Garber's WLXT/Lite 96. Starting inthe late 90's, Wiitala, who was in his 60's, was taking offers for WLDR. In2000, he sold WLDR to Roy Henderson and his Fort Bend Broadcasting Group, whomaintained WLDR's AC format, but changed the station's named from Sunny 102 toSunny 101.9.Before he sold WLDR to Henderson, Wiitalafinally allowed WLDR to remain on the air 24 hours, thanks to a new automatedhard drive system. The station als started airing the syndicated Delilah show,now carried on WSRT 106.7/100.7 (the old WKPK - The Peak).When Henderson purchased WLDR, he alsopurchased