Morning Pros In Motion
• Back in March, Country Radio Hall of Famer Jim Mantel announced his impending radio retirement, effective near the end of June. That moment happened last Friday, June 29, when Mantel did his final show as morning co-host on Dick Broadcasting Country WRNS/Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, NC, closing the book on a 35-year morning radio career that includes an 18-year run with WGAR/Cleveland, where he was named CMA Large Market Personality Of The Year in 1993. Mantel has also worked at KNFM/Midland/Odessa, TX, KRYS/Corpus Christi, TX and KKBQ/Houston.
Yesterday WRNS announced it would be picking up the Premiere-syndicated Bobby Bones Show in mornings, starting Monday, July 9.
For WRNS PD/morning co-host Crystal Legends (left), Bones’ arrival means a momentous move to middays after a long run in morning drive — and the chance to truly feel the joy of early morning motherhood, as she shared in a Facebook post, which read, in part, “In 2010 my life changed, completely, & for the better… I had my first son, & in 2012 God saw it fit to give me another boy. MY WHOLE WORLD revolves around these 2, and I’ve never woken them up with breakfast, and I’ve never taken them to school. I’ve never been home. I’m grateful for the chance to see sleepy faces, and wait in school drop-off lines — things that are mundane tasks for others are envied by people like me — and now I get my chance!!! I thank y’all for all the mornings we’ve spent together, & I’m all in my feelings thinking I get to spend mornings with them.”
Jeff Hackett, who had been tracking the WRNS midday show, will move to weekends. All these changes go into effect next Monday, July 9.
