Iowa Catholic Radio Buys Southern Iowa FM Station

The parent organization of Iowa Catholic Radio is buying a station in the southern part of the state to add to its growing network.

An asset purchase agreement filed with the FCC indicates St. Gabriel Communications has agreed to buy KEDB/105.3 (Chariton) from Edwin Brand’s Honey Creek Broadcasting LLC for $600,000.

KEDB, which currently runs a Classic Hits format, will operate as a non-commercial station after the sale, according to the application for assignment of authorization. KEDB transmits with 34kW/182m (class C2) from a tower near Lake Rathbun, with a core coverage area including Albia and Centerville and rimshot coverage of Ottumwa, Oskaloosa, and Knoxville.

St. Gabriel Communications and its subsidiary, Trinity Communications, currently own KWKY/1150 (Des Moines), KIHS/88.5 (Adel), K233BT/94.5 (Des Moines), and KLOX/90.9 (Creston), and closed on the purchase of KDLS-FM/105.5 (Perry-Des Moines) on May 19. St. Gabriel Communications also has construction permits for new FM stations in Albia, Mason City, Odebolt, Spencer, Iowa, and Stanley, Wis.

Honey Creek Broadcasting also owns KMGO/98.7 (Centerville).

KEDB first signed on as KYRS/105.5 (Chariton) in 1980 using 1.7kW. It changed its callsign to KELR-FM in 1986, changed frequency and upgraded in 2000, and became KEDB in 2009.