Kalamazoo Radio: More Turnover At WKZO-AM

Jeremy Lawrence

• PD Jeremy Lawrence Is OUT
• News Reporter Sam Herald has died

There more turn-over to report at WKZO 590 AM as Jeremy Lawrence, brand manager and interim morning personality has departed.

Longtime radio personality Jim McKinney has stepped into the morning spot, according to MLive.com.

"Jeremy is gone, as of Friday," April 17, said Mike Klein, vice president and market manager for Midwest Communications, Inc.'s Southern Michigan District. "We decided to take his position as brand manager at WKZO and WQLR and absorb that position into the company, consolidating some jobs."

The departure of Lawrence comes after the Febrtuary departure of personality Wayne Powers (See original posting), who was named the new host of the WKZO morning show in October, 2014. He joined the station one year after longtime WKZO morning show host Lori Moore left the station after 18 years.

The station is also dealing with the loss of a reporter, 31-year-old Sam Herald.  He died suddenly Saturday after being hospitalized a week.

A Vicksburg High School graduate, Herald began his radio career at WIDR, Western Michigan University's student station, where he continued to volunteer even after being hired at WKZO in 2006.

"We're in shock over here and we are missing a great friend," said Mike Klein, vice president and market manager for Midwest Communications Inc.'s Southern Michigan District. "They held out hope -- we always hoped he would come back and be with us."

"He was one of those people, very steady, very good at his job," Klein said. "He was just a great guy.