Civitans plan takeover of WBLE on Saturday

Published 11:46 am Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Anticipating Bidding War Batesville Civitans who will be manning the air-waves during this Saturday’s Radio Day on WBLE include  Ricky Swindle, Fletcher Powers, Charles Cobb and Keith Moore, among others. A bushel of sweet potatoes is among items to be auctioned and traditionally brings the largest bid—as much as $1,200. The Panolian photo by Rupert Howell

Anticipating Bidding War
Batesville Civitans who will be manning the air-waves during this Saturday’s Radio Day on WBLE include Ricky Swindle, Fletcher Powers, Charles Cobb and Keith Moore, among others. A bushel of sweet potatoes is among items to be auctioned and traditionally brings the largest bid—as much as $1,200.
The Panolian photo by Rupert Howell

Civitans plan takeover of WBLE on Saturday

By Rupert Howell
Batesville Civitans will take to the air this Saturday beginning at 6 a.m. for their traditional Civitan Radio Day, the clubs annual fundraiser, where they will auction  items ranging from an autographed President-elect Donald Trump book to a bushel of sweet potatoes.
The Radio Day fundraiser tradition is thought to have begun in the 1980s when local characters Joe B. Hartley and Gilbert Crawford kept listeners on their toes for a day of “fun-raising” which last year raised  approximately $30,000 according to Civitan Ricky Swindle.
The club will “take over” WBLE radio station 100.5 Saturday morning with radio personalities Swindle and side-kick Johnny Pace along with Civitans David Honnell, Scotty Respess, Glen Adams Tom Simmons, Keith Moore and others.
Swindle emphasized the fundraiser is a 100 percent club effort with local and area businesses donating items to be auctioned and local Civitans gathering the booty and taking calls.
“We’re just depending on listeners to help on their end,” Swindle said.
The group will not surrender the station back to its management until 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

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