WSIR History
WSIR is the second oldest station in Polk County. Put on the air in 1947 by Larry Rollins, Dach Brandstetter, and Frederick Allman. They formed Citrus Belt Broadcasters, Inc., and were granted a license in November of 1946. The studios were located on Third Street S.E. in Winter Haven in a building which would later be the home of Tyler Jewelers. The transmitter and tower were placed on the southwest shore of Lake Howard. In the first year of operation WSIR became an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System. WSIR was very community oriented, as were most small local stations of the time, and they helped with over-the-air appeals for blood donors before area blood banks came into existence. WSIR also broadcast editorials on a regular basis and won many Associated Press Awards. WSIR revived plans to build a permanent  football stadium for Winter Haven High School. 1954 saw construction of  a new building at the transmitter site on Lake Howard Drive to house its offices and studios. And the FCC granted a power increase to 500 watts. In 1998, Florida's Entertainment & Information Network began as an effort by Anscombe Broadcasting Group to return WSIR, to the air as a Winter Haven-based news station. In 1987, WSIR continued its search for a buyer. In 1986, the station filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code. Located about halfway between Orlando and Tampa, WSIR had felt the effect of the larger cities' FM stations, which had strong signals that easily covered Winter Haven. ''The owners of the station now just want to get out of the broadcasting business,'' said Roger Zinszer, the station's manager. The owners, WHF Associates of Buffalo, N.Y., had purchased the station about two years ago, Zinszer said. The bankruptcy filing listed secured and unsecured debt of more than $354,000 and assets of nearly $495,000, according to a court clerk in Buffalo.
In 1998, Anscombe Broadcasting Group returned WSIR-AM 1490, to the air as a Winter Haven-based news station. Programming included Doug Stephan's "Good Day U.S.A.",  Debbie Nigro's "The Working Mom" and other shows featuring current events, social issues, entertainment, sports, gardening, fishing, hunting, golf, and personal, financial and medical advice. Sunday religious broadcasts are in English, Spanish and French.

Frederick Allman-1947-President-Citrus Belt Broadcasters, Inc.

Larry Rollins-1947-General Manager-Citrus Belt Broadcasters, Inc./1956-General Manager-Hundred Lakes Broadcasting

John Brandstetter-1947-Commercial Manager/Promotions Manager-Citrus Belt Broadcasters, Inc.

Dick Eyrich-1947-Program Director-Citrus Belt Broadcasters, Inc.-Dick broke a marathon announcing record in a stunt to publicize a fund-raising campaign for improvements to Winter Haven’s hospital/1956-Program Director/News Director-Hundred Lakes Broadcasting

L. Orden Craig-1947-Chief Engineer-Citrus Belt Broadcasters, Inc./1956-Chief Engineer-Hundred Lakes Broadcasting   In Memory

courtesy of Winter Haven Museum of History via the Winter Haven News Chief

Bob Prescott-1958-2PM-10PM-Hundred Lakes Broadcasting  
Bob tells us that his salary was $1.00 an hour. Bob was host of the "Polk County Express" from 8PM-10PM nightly. It was a "rock and roll" record show and Bob tells us "...kids in the neighborhood  coming by, some times I would put them on the air, a local young person get together, happened almost every night, I was 24-25 (back) then..." He also talks about signing the station off at 10PM. "Had to walk around to the back and turn off the trans, next to the station was a canal, Alligators slept there, 22 rifle was at the door to carry, just in case, people lived next door had a nasty dog liked to catch  me..."

Arnold Silvert-1960-Sales/Station Manager

Jack Shaw-1964

Bill Davis-1966-1967-8pm-Midnight  From Larry Vee; "Bill ran a Rock 'N Roll show from 8pm to midnight 6 days a week. He was also a student at Polk Junior College in Bartow." "...he was given the college radio show on Winter Haven’s WSIR 1490,  based on his WONN 1230, experience. At the Winter Haven station, the evening host of “Nightbeat,” Gene Mullen, expressed his dislike of rock music and asked Davis if he would like to take over the show. When he agreed, WSIR, 1490 owner Larry Rollins hired him to run the show, which he did for a year and a half through 1966-1/68.  He then turned the “Nightbeat” over to his P(olk) J(unior) C(ollege) classmate Larry “Vee” Flegle.

Larry Vee (Larry Flegle)-1967-1968-8pm-Midnight-"Night beat with Larry Vee"  Biography

Debra Anscombe-1969-General Manager

Lori Edwards-1977-1985-Cypress Central Communications/Leopold Broadcasting Company

Boris Mitchell

Roger Zinszer-Station Manager

Jim Knight

Ross McVicker

Steve Howard

Ken Copper

Craig Harper

Bob Stephenson-Program Director/Mornings

Dan Dermody-Station manager

Tom Anthony Biography

Keith Solis

Deitra Miles

Damien-9-11AM

Willie Mae McIver-11am-3pm

Scott West

Pam Gibson

Greg Scurry 

Roy Murray-Sat 5-9am, Sun 5 - 8am