KZEG (defunct)

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MaC FM broadcasts on two frequencies in Eastern Iowa, 94.7 (Formerly KZEG "The Eagle 94.7") in Clinton, IA (KMCN) and 93.1 (Formerly KWCC "93 Country") in Muscatine (KMCS).

1 Stations History: 1990s to 2005
2 The New MaC FM: 2005 to Present
3 June 1st, 2007 Tornado
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Stations History: 1990s to 2005

Both stations began sometime in the 1990s, possibly even in the 1980s and broadcasted country music. At that time, they both were separate companies going by different names: 93.1-KWCC in Muscatine, IA, listed as "93 Country" and 94.7-KZEG in Clinton, IA, known as "The Eagle 94.7." Both stations sometime after 2000 were facing problems, as country stations in the area were going into a decline and the ratings of both stations were very low. In 2003-2004, W.P.W Broadcasting Co. sold some of its stations including KZEG-KCLN in Clinton, and KWCC-KWPC in Muscatine to Prairie Radio Communications Inc. In 2005, the demise of country music on the two stations came as a result of diminished popularity and demand for the genre.

[edit] The New MaC FM: 2005 to Present

In late November and early December of 2005, signs at the broadcast studios were changed and it was officially announced that KZEG & KWCC would be merging and changing their name to KMCN & KMCS under the slogan "93.1 & 94.7-MaC FM." KZEG changed its call letter to KMCN, for Mac North, while KWCC changed its call letters to KMCS, for Mac South.[1] At this point the stations decided to make another switch; and opted to play adult hits rather than the country music they played before. The two stations are simulcast, playing the same playlist of songs at the same time and are broadcast on one 3,400 Watt & one 6,000 Watt Transmitter, one west of Clinton, the other in Muscatine. Despite there being a large gap between the two broadcast areas, mainly in Davenport, IA, the stations still target the "Quad Cities" market along the Iowa/Illinois border.[2]

[edit] June 1st, 2007 Tornado

On June 1st, 2007,A Tornado struck the listening area of KMCS-93.1. Within two minutes of a warning being issued, KMCS-FM 93.1, and it's sister station, KWPC-AM 860, were on the air. First thing the two stations did, was broadcast the warning, over the Emergency Alert System, which Muscatine County Government and the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, has access to interrupt and run the E.A.S. Five minutes after the warning was issued, the stations started to get calls and storm reports. KMCS & KWPC also aired the Tornado Warning, that was issued for Cedar County. It had been reported that, yet, another tornado was on-the-ground, near Wilton, IA.

When all was over, some injuries were reported, yet no fatalies occurred. The worst hit areas appeared to be the town of Grandview, in Louisa County, and Fruitland, in Muscatine County. The Tornado ripped an appoximate 10-Mile Path through the two counties. KMPC/KMCS was on-the-air until around 5 PM. Muscatine Mayor Richard O' Brien, declared a State of Emergency, and was hear on KMCS/KWPC, and Muscatine County Emergency Management declared a State of Emergency for Fruitland.

Prarie Radio Communications, owners of KMCS/KWPC & KMCN/KCLN always say "When The Sirens Blow, Listen to The Radio!"

Other News Media were on-the-air during the event. Including WHBF-TV-CBS4 in Rock Island, IL, KWQC-TV6 in Davenport, IA, WQAD-TV-NewsChannel 8 in Moline, IL, KCRG-TV9 in Cedar Rapids, IA, and KLJB-TV - FOX-18 in Davenport, IA for example.

If you would like to see more, the Muscatine Journal, the area newspaper in Muscatine, has "Tornado News" on their website, [3].