Keisters Ridge is a typical small town in the heartland of America. It is not unlike any number of other small towns that dot the corn and soy bean fields of the Midwest. Places such as Keisters Ridge might just as well be separated from the rest of the world by a wall or a time warp. The pace is different, usually slower, and the people are different, too. Many of them are also slower.
But like folks everywhere the citizens of Keister’s Ridge want to know what is happening in their town, their state, and their country. News of the world is considered somewhat less important unless it deals with the latest grain deals with other nations.
The people receive their information from four basic sources. The very least important of these is the television. While in the Big City folks may watch network news after coming home from their jobs, the farmers of Keister’s Ridge are still working when the news comes on. That is one of the difficulties of living in a region with a time zone one hour off from the rest of the country. The eleven o’clock news comes on the television at ten, but it is primarily local in makeup. Besides, the nearest television station is in Miller’s Falls and the Keister people do not really care much about what goes on over there.
The most important source of news and information is the old fashioned clothes line and picket fence system. The wives and mothers pass the latest gossip, rumors, hot news flashes, and recipes back and forth over the picket fence while hanging the wash out on the cloths line. The farm women meet at Rich’s Super Market on their periodic trips into town. The men hold court at Malcom Ott’s Farm and Feed, there is always a group hanging around the cargo dock while their pickups are being loaded with Termatrex Corn Rootworm eradicator or rolls of chicken wire.
On Sundays everyone meets after church in the parking lots. During the week discussions take place every lunch hour at the Keister Inn or Fred’s Motel and Hungarian Restaurant. The teenagers all hang out at the Keister Drive-In.
Somewhere in between the television and the personal exchanges of news lie the local newspaper and the radio station. THE KEISTER HERALD is so totally local, so totally town oriented that the letters to the editor department is twice the size of the world news section. The portion of helpful home hints, with tricks on how to remove stains from carpets and methods of repairing gutters, is twice again the size of the letters to the editor department. While wars and scandal ripple across the face of the planet the KEISTER HERALD has banner headlines screaming things like “High School Hoopsters Hit Highs In State Finals,” and “Plastic Pig In City Hall Again.”
WBFQ Beautiful Country Music is the radio station for Keister’s Ridge. The Beautiful Country Music Studios are located about half way between downtown and the city limits. The transmitter tower is out back of the
building. They broadcast almost twentyfour hours out of the day. Sign-on is at six o’clock in the morning, just in time for the first farm commodities report from Chicago.
In the Big City the most important program is during the early morning hours and is called the morning drive time slot. At WBFQ this same period is called the “morning plowing slot”. In this day and age of the air conditioned tractor the station with the best reception in the fields is sure to have the biggest audience. Not only does WBFQ Beautiful Country have the best field reception, it also
has the only field reception.
Whether a radio is in an International Harvester combine or in the kitchen of the farm home it is almost sure to be tuned in to WBFQ. Naturally, the programs are specially tailored to the needs and tastes of the Keister’s Ridge community. The visitor to town who tunes in will get an earful of the latest in Keister news, entertainment, sports, and gossip. As a matter of fact, anyone passing through town on a certain Monday in May would have heard this;
This is WBFQ Beautiful Country Music….WBFQ Keisters Ridge.
Hi folks, Big John Johnson, the Country King, here and I am coming at you this fine morning from the studies right here in Keisters Ridge. In just one minute we will have the Keisters Ridge Community Calendar.
But, first let me remind you that for your dining and dancing pleasure it’s the Keister Inn. That’s right, the Keister Inn is located in downtown Keisters Ridge. Don’t forget the Keister Inn’s weekly specials. Wednesday is Fried Chicken night. How many times have you had Auntie Mabel’s fantastic fired chicken at the Keister Inn? And if you haven’t had it, well you jut don’t know what you are missing on a Wednesday night. By the way, Thursday is Steak Night.
But, don’t forget Friday. Yes, Friday is Fish Night. This week’s special fish is catfish. For the most fantastic catfish ever, be sure to stop by for the Keister Catfish Creole. By the way, the Keister Inn is open until twelve midnight on Friday for your dining and dancing pleasure. This week Billy Bo Bob and his Country BeBop Band is appearing.
Remember, its the Keister Inn for your dining and dancing pleasure.
All right, now… You are listening to WBFQ Beautiful Country Music…WBFQ Keister’s Ridge.
It is now time for the Keister’s Ridge Community Calendar. The Keister’s Ridge Community Calendar is brought to you today by S & M Hardware and Buggy Supply. Its S & M Hardware and Buggy Supply for all your hardware or buggy needs. Whether its whips or chains you can get it at S & M Hardware and Buggy Supply.
First on the Keisters Ridge Community Calendar is a note from the 4th grade class at the Grover Cleveland. Elementary School. The 4th Grade Class is having a carnival to raise money for their yearly field trip to the county seat in Miller’s Falls where they plan to see our government in action. The Grover Cleveland 4th Grade Class Carnival starts at five o’clock Thursday evening.
Wednesday night the Keisters Ridge Volunteer Fire Department will be having their weekly bingo game and raffle. The Keister’s Ridge Volunteer Fire Department bingo game and raffle will once again be held in the fire house at seven-thirty. The proceeds from this week’s raffle goes to meet the June payment on the new pumper truck.
Last but not least on the Keisters Ridge Community Calendar is this note from the Keister Ridge Community Theatre. Friday and Saturday the Keisters Ridge Community Theatre will present the musical comedy I’LL SAY SHE IS in the Keisters Ridge Consolidated Unit 12 Community High School gymnasium. Tickets are available at Fred’s Motel and Hungarian Restaurant and at the door.
Well, that’s it for the Keisters Ridge Community Calendar. The Keisters Ridge Community Calendar was brought to you today by S & M Hardware and Buggy Supply. Remember, whether you need a buggy whip or a length of chain S & M has it. Also, don’t forget to check out their new leather goods department. That’s S & M Hardware and Buggy Supply.
You’re listening to WBFQ Beautiful Country Music. I’m Big John Johnson, the Country King. Stay tuned for more music.
And so it goes, day in and day out. Big John Johnson and the rest of the gang play music by Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, and Conway Twitty. Between songs are the special features such as the Community Calendar, the Pink and Blue Show (which announces the names of all the new babies born locally), and the Question and Solution Hour during which folks call in with questions or problems, and the answers to those or other questions or problems. Sometimes people call in with items to trade, but they are told to call back during the Trader’s Corner Show Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Between the songs and features are scattered spots from advertisers. The ads may be any of the local businesses. Bart always advertises his Bart’s Richfield Service Where You Can Expect Service With a Smile. Then there is, of course, Fred’s Motel and Hungarian Restaurant, Home of the Ten Foot Salad Bar. But, nobody should miss the Radio Specials offered by Arnold Obermeyer.
This is WBFQ Beautiful Country Music…WBFQ Keister’s Ridge. I’m Big John Johnson and I have a message for YOU. Arnold, of Arnold’s Body Shop and Dance Studio is having a special this month. That’s right, if you come into Arnold’s Body Shop and Dance Studio before the end of the month and have any fender on your car repaired Arnold will give you a certificate worth five free ballroom dance lessons. Learn to dance the hours away while your fender is being repaired. And, if you mentioned that you heard this offer on the Big John Johnson Show Arnold will throw in a free Simonize wax job. Remember, its Arnold’s Body Shop and Dance Studio for the best in car care.