Historical Note

KLCC 89.7 FM is a public radio station licensed to Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. In addition to the main transmitter in Eugene, the station has translators in four communities throughout Western and Central Oregon (Cottage Grove, Oakridge, Riddle, and Sisters), and five sister stations which broadcast KLCC programming -- KLBR in Bend, KLFO in Florence, KLCO in Newport, KLFR in Reedsport, and KMPQ in Roseburg.

One-third of KLCC’s broadcast week is devoted to news and talk programs, covering local, regional, national and international topics and issues. The remaining hours are filled with music programs including jazz, blues, folk, world, reggae, Celtic, electronic, singer/songwriter, R&B, Latino, and women's music.

KLCC went on the air in February 1967 as a project of the Electronics Department at Lane Community College. During its first few years of existence, KLCC was a training ground for technical and on-air students, and students were actively involved in the programming of the station. In 1977 KLCC became an independent department of LCC and the radio station became a non-instructional service of the college, operated by a professional staff. The decision was made for KLCC to become a public radio station and in 1971 KLCC became a charter member of NPR (National Public Radio).

In 1974 KLCC studios moved into the Forum Building on the LCC main campus. After nearly 41 years on the LCC campus, KLCC moved to a new home at 136 W. 8th Street in downtown Eugene in 2008.

Fundraising events include the Radiothons and Thonbusters, KLCC in Bloom: Tour of Gardens, the annual garden tour beginning in1994, and the Microbrew Festival beginning in 2002. KLCC has broadcast from community events such as the Eugene Celebration, Oregon Country Fair, and Willamette Valley Folk Festival.

In 2009, the KLCC staff included 20 paid employees, and over 70 volunteers from the community. Steve Barton began as assistant engineer 1977, became chief engineer in 1978, and General Manager in 1987. Don Hein was hired as News & Public Affairs Director in 1977 and became Program Director in 1988. Other administrative staff members are Michael Canning, Music Director since 1984; Paula Chan Carpenter, Development Director since 1980; Kris Lindstrom Fox, Continuity Director 1981-1988 and Membership Director since 1988; and Gayle Chisholm, Marketing Director since 1986 and webmaster since 2000.

Tripp Sommer began as a volunteer in 1981 and was hired as Morning Edition host in 1986. In 1988 he became News Director and host of Northwest Passage, a local and regional newsmagazine, offering newscasts, feature reports, arts and book reviews, interviews, commentary, and analysis of local and regional issues.

Former longtime staff/volunteers include: Gavin "Rooster" Fox (1948-1999), the host of Blues Power, Tropical Beat and Fresh Tracks, 1977-1999; David Joyce (1946-2003),co-host with Lotte Streisinger of Visible City during the 1990's; Carolyn Spector (1937-2001), book reviewer on Northwest Passage, 1990-2001; Peter Wotton (1933-1996) host of Elderberry Wine commentaries, focusing on issues of interest to older people, 1982-1996; and Alan Siporin, commentator and host of Live Wire and Critical Mass, 1981-2003. For more information about the history of KLCC see “Milestones” on the KLCC webpage http://www.klcc.org/index.asp