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| Energy 106.7 morning show hosts Joe Swanson and Sarah Jorges (Newton News photos) |
Four long-silent central Iowa radio stations—KCOB-AM 1280 and KCOB-FM 95.9 in Newton, KGRN-AM 1410 in Grinnell, and Hot AC “Energy 106.7” (KRTI)—have been purchased by Yankton, South Dakota-based Riverfront Broadcasting of Iowa and are back on the air with restored local programming and familiar voices.
Riverfront, owned by Carolyn and Doyle Becker, acquired the cluster from Connoisseur Media in early September 2026 for $40,000 under an asset purchase agreement filed with the FCC. A local marketing agreement allowed operations to begin October 1. The stations had been off the air since Connoisseur abruptly shut them down on June 9 for financial reasons after acquiring them as part of its purchase of Alpha Media.
The Beckers, who specialize in small-market stations across South Dakota and Minnesota, have relaunched the stations’ previous formats—country and oldies on the KCOB signals, adult contemporary on KGRN, and hot adult contemporary on Energy 106.7—while prioritizing local news, sports, weather, and community information. Newton stations are further along in the restart process; KGRN is relocating from 909 Main Street to a new studio at 812 Commercial Street in downtown Grinnell, which has required additional technical work to reconnect equipment and ensure signal transmission.
General Manager Ron McCarthy, who helped facilitate the deal by contacting the Beckers while they were closing a separate purchase of Connoisseur stations in Watertown, South Dakota, said the goal is simply to “be a local community radio station and serve the people.”
The Beckers, who specialize in small-market stations across South Dakota and Minnesota, have relaunched the stations’ previous formats—country and oldies on the KCOB signals, adult contemporary on KGRN, and hot adult contemporary on Energy 106.7—while prioritizing local news, sports, weather, and community information. Newton stations are further along in the restart process; KGRN is relocating from 909 Main Street to a new studio at 812 Commercial Street in downtown Grinnell, which has required additional technical work to reconnect equipment and ensure signal transmission.
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| GM McCarthy |
Longtime personalities are returning, including John Martenson to host mornings and provide play-by-play sports on KGRN, and Randy Van Roekel for news and morning duties on the Newton stations. Carolyn Becker has emphasized restoring and improving the community-focused approach listeners preferred before earlier ownership changes, noting that “Grinnell and Newton fit perfectly into what we like as communities.”
The June shutdown, which left staff, advertisers, and listeners without warning and suspended local websites and email, followed earlier cuts under Alpha Media in 2024 that eliminated much of the on-air local talent. Community reaction has been strongly positive. Newton Mayor Randy Ervin called the sale “phenomenal news” and pledged city support for local content. Residents have contacted the new owners expressing relief at having a trusted source for local information again.
Riverfront, formed more than 20 years ago to focus on stations within a day’s drive of Yankton, previously owned stations in several Iowa communities before selling them. The company owns 21 stations in South Dakota and two in Minnesota and has stressed hands-on, community-oriented operations rather than a one-size-fits-all model. As of mid-October, the Newton stations were expected imminently, with KGRN close behind once studio relocation work is complete.
The June shutdown, which left staff, advertisers, and listeners without warning and suspended local websites and email, followed earlier cuts under Alpha Media in 2024 that eliminated much of the on-air local talent. Community reaction has been strongly positive. Newton Mayor Randy Ervin called the sale “phenomenal news” and pledged city support for local content. Residents have contacted the new owners expressing relief at having a trusted source for local information again.
Riverfront, formed more than 20 years ago to focus on stations within a day’s drive of Yankton, previously owned stations in several Iowa communities before selling them. The company owns 21 stations in South Dakota and two in Minnesota and has stressed hands-on, community-oriented operations rather than a one-size-fits-all model. As of mid-October, the Newton stations were expected imminently, with KGRN close behind once studio relocation work is complete.