Utica/Rome Radio: WUTI Forced Off-Air By Vandals

Tower site vandalism is to blame for a full week — and counting — of silence from talk radio station WUTI 1150 AM.  The damage was so extensive, officials with Leatherstocking Media Group say repairs on the Oriskany transmitter site could take another three weeks.

WUTI simulcasts the CNY Talk Radio format which originates from Syracuse’s WFBL 1390 AM.

General Manager Don Wagner tells CNYRadio.com today, the station was already operating at low power when the vandals struck last Thursday.  ”They took almost all the transmission line from the phase shack to each of the five towers,” Wagner said.

Wagner says repairs have already been made to the shacks at the base of each tower, but the work is on hold as Leatherstocking awaits the arrival of new transmission lines.

Wagner says police told him the vandals were likely looking to turn a quick buck to buy drugs — and because it’s relatively easy to sell-off scrap metal, it’s unlikely police will be able to track down the culprits.

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Tom’s Take:  The 1150 AM frequency was WRUN when a young Dick Clark worked there in 1945.  The station was then owned by Clark's uncle.