Volume 5 • Issue 1 • January 2014

909 North Railroad Street Eagle River, WI 54521 (715) 479-4451 HHCCGG aazzeettttee “One of America’s Finest Small Market Companies” In This Brutal Weather Challenges Issue

the Northwoods and UP Page 2 . . . ’ve never seen anything Pres. Release like it,” said one long - “Itime Heartland listener. Page 4 . . . Are you kidding me, it’s really 32 Ashland News degrees below zero?!” And, he didn’t talk very long for fear the cold air traveling through his Page 5 . . . mouth might freeze his windpipe Eagle River News shut. Perhaps the coldest Heartland Page 6 . . . market in January was Ashland, WI. It was probably the market hit Iron River News hardest with the most snow as well. Snow is usually very wel - Page 7 . . . come, but when it comes in foot Park Falls News measurements instead of inch measurements, it can be rather challenging to say the least. The Jim Coursolle, CRMC picture of snow on the Heartland President and CEO Ashland station studio building says it all. By the way, the roof Deb Josephs, CPA had to be shoveled clear of snow Corporate CFO to prevent roof leakage or col - Snow on the roof of the Ashland station building. lapse. Wendi Ell, newsletter Ashland General Manager, wind chill factors for over a week. storm in Ashland…we have cer - designer and Scott Jaeger, said, “In Northern In fact in Superior, , tainly had our struggles with win - publisher Wisconsin and the UP of Michi - where Sandy and Marge Berg ter!” gan we have experienced one of work, they officially recorded 61º Darla Isham, GM in Park Falls the earliest and longest cold snaps below zero! Couple that with asks, “How cold did it get in the we have seen in a long time. We Mother Nature wreaking havoc Park Falls Market? were experiencing 30 to 50º below with a monster 32 inch snow See C-O-L-D , Page 3 www.heartlandcomm.com

Heartland Winds Up Year on a High Note All-Company Performance for December at 100.5% n the final month of 2013, Ashland exceeded their rev - 116.98% budget. Wheeler told the three out of four Heartland enue budget by 103% led by HCGazette that he is proud of the Imarkets went over the top Heartland’s leading salesperson efforts put forth by his team. with revenue budgets catapulting John Warren who exceeded the Wheeler said, “Our new salesper - the company into 2014 in a very $41,000 mark. Bob Michaels and son, Troy Margoni, is showing positive manner. Tammy Hollister, who joined the positive growth and we expect Park Falls led with 111.7% of Ashland team in 2013, showed good things from him in 2014.” budget. Darla Isham, Park Falls solid growth with Hollister ob - “2014 is shaping up to be a V.P. & General Manager said, “It taining 107.67% of budget in De - good revenue year for Heartland,” was a total team effort; our new cember. according to CEO Jim Coursolle. salespeople Paul Dischler and Iron River surpassed their “Our focus in 2014 will be in - Tammy Hastings have developed budget goals by 101.7% with creasing EBITDA by hitting a their skills and along with veteran Amber Sarifiny reaching high percentage of sales budgets Preston Vaughn, this sales team 166.41% of budget and market in all four of our markets,” said put it all together!” VP & GM Dan Wheeler obtaining Coursolle. Page 2 Volume 5 • Issue 1 • January 2014 HCG azette PPrreess.. RReelleeaassee

anuary, in my opinion, is their gear and heading home; it was Heartland, how did 2013 go for You have heard me say that, a month that brings the day after the defeat they suf - you? What percentage of the time basically, it always comes down to Jmixed emotions. The hol - fered at the hands of San Francisco did you make your personal sales “attitude,” and in this case, it is idays are over and there may be a in the brutal cold at Lambeau Field. budget? If you would make your your attitude about yourself. If let-down to some degree. It gets Most of the interviews I heard personal sales budget in 2014, how YOU have the desire to make 2014 cold and mentioned something about “next much more in commissions would the best year of your life, YOU can that is espe - season” or “beginning again.” I you earn and would that money be and YOU will. cially true heard things like “working on my meaningful to you in some way? I’m not big on New Year’s reso - this year in technique” or the word, “improve - What can you personally do to im - lutions only because they’re often the North - ment.” January gives all of us a prove your sales in 2014? With forgotten in about a week or month. woods. In chance to do some introspection. today’s Internet, the RAB, WBA But, I do believe that we can pick the North - If you are an on-air talent; did webinars and resources at your sta - one or two certain areas of our life woods, we your shows go the way you wanted tions, there is a ton of stuff you can that we perceive needs improve - do pray for them to go in 2013? Is there room use to improve and learn new sales ment and formulate a plan that we snow be - for improvement in 2014? Can skills. Your general manager can work on until we improve; athletes cause it Jim Coursolle your show preparation be more assist you, but most importantly, do that all the time. By formulating brings the President, CEO beneficial? What can you do to you can assist yourself. Spend the an improvement PLAN, you do snowmobil - make your radio show more com - time, and maybe a little money, to much more than just wish or make ers, skiers and winter sports people pelling so that more listeners tune obtain training courses or materials some sort of a resolution to make a up here and we know tourists al - in to our Heartland stations? What that will improve your sales skills change. ways make things easier finan - do people tell you that they like in 2014, but it’s up to you. If you PLAN to improve in cially, but we could do without the about your show; have you heard On the personal side of the 2014, you will. It’s all about your sub-zero temperatures. I think the any negative comments from lis - ledger, you may have some areas in attitude toward yourself; YOU one thing that I really like about teners or other staff members? your own life that you would like have to decide that YOU are worth January is that it brings a new be - There is so much information on to improve. Again, there is a myr - it and then begin to go to work with ginning; a chance to start over and the Internet today that can be used iad of self-help materials available your PLAN. Invest in YOU and renew your life. for show preparation or show im - on the Internet and at your local li - YOU will improve. I remember listening to the inter - provement in some way, but it’s up brary. But, YOU have to take the Diane and I wish you the most views on the radio with Packer to you. initiative and make the move; it’s successful and happiest of New players as they were packing up If you are a salesperson for up to you. Years in 2014!

December Top Sellers birthday “broadcasts” january 4th – Peggy Kaczkowski - Eagle River 5th – Starr Helgemo - Iron River Market Managers 9th – Wendy Schulta - Eagle River Darla Isham ...... $20,118 11th – Trish Keeley - Eagle River th Dan Wheeler ...... $16,693 17 – David Olson - Ashland 21st – Tammy Hastings - Park Falls Scott Jaeger ...... $14,905 22nd – Jenny Gabrelcik - Eagle River Sales Reps 25th – Kathy Wawiorka - Corporate John Warren...... $41,089 28th – Paul Dischler - Park Falls Amber Sarafiny ...... $14,340 February Bob Michaels ...... $12,736 11th– Bob Michaels - Ashland Trish Keeley ...... $12,677 18th – Jim Slagle - Eagle River th Rob Zimbler ...... $12,539 19 – Preston Vaughn - Park Falls 22nd – Rick Frischmann - Park Falls Volume 5 • Issue 1 • January 2014 Page 3

Ashland Cluster Accomplishes “Hat Trick” he Heartland Ashland Manager of the Ashland cluster, we have in Ashland. Q-Ball, Mark, first impression!” stations turned in an out - Scott Jaeger Rudy and Veterans Tstanding fourth quarter said, “I am Skip give us Marge and performance making and exceed - very proud a tremendous Sandy Berg ing all sales budgets for the months of the way product to continue to of October, November and Decem - our team in take to the represent the ber 2013. In October, Ashland Ashland marketplace. Ashland posted 103.8% of their revenue overcame a And when cluster in the budget; in November, they hit poor econ - our listeners Iron River, 101.7% and in December, they omy to win come into WI, Superior went over the top at 103%. the way we the station to and Duluth, Throughout 2013, Heartland’s did. We have Scott Jaeger buy shop - Lori Mahnke MN areas. Tammy Hollister leading salesperson, John Warren, terrific sales - Ashland ping show Ashland “We see a lot Ashland exceeded his sales budget; in Octo - people in General Manager items or receptionist of business salesperson ber Warren Ashland.” bring in pub - from our reached Jaeger said he also wanted to “tip lic service announcements, Lori, Western areas.” 101.9%; in my hat to the excellent on-air talent our receptionist, creates the best Jaeger went on to praise the November outstanding performance of, new in 103.36% and 2013, salespeople Tammy Hollister in December and Bob Michaels, “I am so appre - he obtained Ashland’s Personalities ciative of their ability to catch on 110.28%! (L to R) Dave Q-Ball Nelson, to radio sales as quickly and as Warren told Mark Miller and Rudy well as they have. These are two the Marincel very good representatives of our HCGazette, John Warren stations in Ashland.” that organi - Ashland Heartland CEO Jim Coursolle zation, time salesperson said that, “Ashland has assembled management a team of winners under the leader - and most importantly, “old fash - ship of Scott Jaeger, it’s fun to ioned customer service,” were the watch their development and keys to his success. progress. Vice President and General They have electricity!”

Heartland C-O-L-D, from Page 1 tine, though new to the Northwoods, has spent considerable time with Montana win - GMs I cannot remember a time when actual tem - ters. Craig said, “Eagle River had lows peratures were -33 to -38 degrees for several around 25º below zero with some highs in days in a row during the day; the high some the negative single digits. We didn’t have Meet days – spanning at least a week or so – would any snow during the Polar Vortex. For the be -25 degrees (with wind chills of 50 to 70º most part, life went on as normal in Eagle The Heartland Vice Presidents and below zero) causing communities in the Price River and Vilas County. This is one part of General Managers met January 24, 2014 County area to actually close down. Schools the country that doesn’t let winter slow it from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM at the Cor - closed, many businesses closed, and con - down. porate Offices, Eagle River. sumers faced frozen pipes and furnace prob - Mike Wolf, Heartland Corporate Director In attendance was Scott Jaeger, Ash - lems at home. Needless to say, I have staff of Programming, put it another way when he land GM, Darla Isham, Park Falls GM, members that have some travel time getting asked, “What is the definition of “Brutal Dan Wheeler, Iron River GM and Craig to work; some days they just had to stay at Cold” in Northern Wisconsin?” Wolf said, Whetstine, new GM of Heartland’s Eagle home and work the phones. Businesses were “Brutal Cold is the temperature at which you River stations along with Heartland CEO very distracted because they had to deal with find out how many of your car parts can Jim Coursolle. bitter cold issues as well.” break or fail without any forewarning. This The meeting focus was “Making Dan Wheeler, Heartland Iron River, MI action will usually take place just after you’ve Budgets and Increasing EBITDA in GM, when asked about the temperatures in filled your LP tank for the second time and 2014,” said Coursolle. “In December his area, reported, “As low as 29 degrees your money reserves for the year have been 2013, we have proved that we have the below zero at the Iron Mountain Wastewater greatly depleted; it’s when you consider tak - capability to exceed revenue goals as a Treatment Plant in Breitung Township; the ing your horse to work.” Mike and his wife team so we will raise the sense of ur - wind chill took it to 40 to 50º below.” Wendi have horses; we hope the horses are gency and insist upon that accomplish - Heartland Eagle River GM, Craig Whets - wearing their long johns and scarves. ment being carried out throughout 2014.” Page 4 Volume 5 • Issue 1 • January 2014 AAsshhllaanndd

GM N otes ... By Scott Jaeger, GM WBSZ/WNXR/WJJH/WATW

anuary! Did I ever tell you I HATE JANUARY! As Jimmy Scott Jaeger JBuffet says in one of his Ashland songs…”I GOTTA CARIBBEAN VP and General SOUL THAT IS OUTTA CON - It was a great promotion during the Manager TROL”… so needless to say the 30 month of December. Heartland Communications was and 40º below zero and the 32 inch www.wbszfm.com snow storm we had in Ashland is not also able to tie into the Ironwood up my alley! Snowmobile Olympus held at the www.wnxrfm.com Anyway, we had a successful holi - Gogebic County Fair Grounds as the It was held on Saturday night, January www.wjjhfm.com day season at the stations in Ashland. official radio Station.We did 1-½ hour 4th at the Hotel Chequamegon in Our goal was to hit budget for the 3rd broadcasts live from the race track on Ashland. We had some wonderful ap - month in a row and finish the year off both Friday and Saturday. January 4th petizers, a super meal, played some strong. Mission accomplished! and 5th, was the Pro Vintage Week - Christmas games and JD Bass Enter - We also brought back the Magic end with all of old classic snowmo - tainment provided music and of Stocking over the holidays as a biles going head to head. Do any of course…KARAOKE! What a blast fundraiser for the BRICK Food Shelf. these ring a bell? Chapparel, Scor - we had. Thanks again Jim and Diane. The Magic Stockings were around pion, TNT, Blizzard, Evinrude, Now it’s off to selling Spring town and people dropped their dona - Rupp…hadn’t heard those names in Home Shows! We are hosting the tions into the Magic Stockings. Cof - awhile have you? They were all there! show in Ironwood on March 21st - fey Oil in Ashland (Holiday Station Then the following weekend, January 23rd at the Pat O’Donnell Civic Cen - Stores) match dollar for dollar up to 10th through the 12th, the big boys ter followed up in Ashland at the Bay $1000. This year we collected almost came to town for the USSA Prostar Area Civic Center April 11th through $1200 which means our donation to Race along with the TLR Cup! We 13th! the Food Shelf will be around $2200!! had an opportunity to interview 4 Did I ever tell you I HATE JANU - Over Christmas, we came up with World Champions, including Mal - ARY…? the idea to do “THE 12 REMOTES colm Chartier the current OF CHRISTMAS.” We basically sold Champions, along with race 3-hour live broadcasts to 12 different coordinators, USSA dignitaries businesses. The business gave away a and even the man in charge of $50 gift certificate during at the end the ice track…MURPH AND of the Live Broadcast to one person ARTESIANS! Long story!!! who registered the live broadcast. What a couple of weekends That winner was then qualified to win they were. Thank you to every - a $500 gift card from Heartland Com - one at the Ironwood Snowmo - munications! We had a great time bile Olympus! What a with it and will definitely bring it great job they did! again to the holiday table next year! I would like to thank I was able to acquire 8 tickets to Jim and Diane Coursolle see The Band Perry coming to the for our Christmas party. DECC in Du - luth. We sold a sponsorship to Washburn Hardware and Sport and Skip Hunter gave away all Ashland of the tickets! Program Director

2320 Ellis Avenue. P.O. Box 613, Ashland, Wisconsin 54806 Volume 5 • Issue 1 • January 2014 Page 5 EEaaggllee RRiivveerr PD N otes ... By Mike Wolf, PD WJRO/WERL

n entire community comes together to raise Afunds for locally-based Angel On My Shoulder, a cancer support organization committed to improving the quality of life of those living with or affected by cancer. Craig Whetstine The plunge took place at noon Eagle River with sun, light snow, and a tempera - VP and General ture of 20 degrees on Big St.Ger - Manger main Lake. 89 Plungers were on hand to thrill a large crowd of spec - www..com tators. 50 plungers were first timers to the event. The youngest plunger was 10 years old and the oldest was Russ “Moses” Huizinga with a total of $3,600.00 has now raised over 70. $22,600.00 for Angel over 14 years. Over the past fourteen years this WRJO event has raised just over All plungers received a long uary 3rd, 2015 for the 14th Annual $333,421.00 for Angel On My sleeved T-shirt, for a minimum of $35 Northwoods Original Polar Bear Shoulder. Mike Wolf said “An amaz - in pledges along with a commemora - Plunge to benefit Angel On My ing team of plungers and spectators tive wrist bracelet. Shoulder. raised a grand total of $28,827.00 Recipients of the “Guardian If you took the plunge or missed dollars, with donations still coming Angel” plaques this year were Bill it, you can relive the day with the in. In this economy it’s so heart and Kathy Ell for the many dedicated Youtube video provided by The warming to see that the people of years of involvement with the plunge. Northwoods River News and The this area are still willing to whole- We hope to see you Saturday, Jan - Lakeland Times. heartedly support such a worthwhile cause.” Russ “Moses” Huizinga with a total of $3,600.00 has now raised over $22,600.00 for Angel over the past 14 years. A sampling of those waiting in line identified plungers from Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona, North Carolina, and Texas with the majority from Wisconsin. The Best Costume category was won by The Seven Dwarfs. Liz Bar - ber, Matt Reuss, Jocelyn Smith, Mag - gie Taylor, Haley Taylor, Megan & Patti Farrell. Mike Wolf The WRJO 94.5 Radio station Corporate team of Mike Wolf and Amy Linnett, Program Director raised $12.225.00 in pledges during the 30-hour Radio Pledge-A-Thon held prior to the plunge date. During that time they interviewed Lolly Rose, founder of Angel on My Shoul - der, several Board members, and pro - gram participants who have seen first hand the benefit of the many pro - grams provided through this organi - zation.

909 N. Railroad Street, P.O. Box 309, Eagle River, Wisconsin 54521 Page 6 Volume 5 • Issue 1 • January 2014 IIrroonn RRiivveerr GM N otes ... By Dan Wheeler, GM WIKB/WFER Iron River welcomes new Sales Executive roy Margoni Joined WIKB’s sports department in Au - gust of 2013 as the announcer for the Forest Park Tro - Tjans. Then in November Troy join the sales team as a part-time salesperson. Troy was born and raised in Crystal Falls, Dan Wheeler Michigan graduating from Forest Park Iron River High school in 2001. Troy graduated VP and General from Northern Michigan University in Manager 2007 with his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He graduated from the Fox Valley Technical College Police www.wikb.com Recruit Academy in 2008. Troy has worked as a salesperson in the hearing aid business, and as a juvenile proba - tion officer, correctional officer and homeless prevention specialist.

Bitter cold temperatures Michigan State Christmas Tree came from none other than Iron River. The blue spruce was from the hit the U.P. yard of John and Barbara Waara. This year’s state Christmas tree got some pretty flattering recogni - Forest Park’s boys basketball team suffered its first defeat of tion alongside others from major cities around the the season last week. But it wasn’t to an opposing team. The world. The Huffington Post gave the final spot in spell of subzero weather that closed schools also forced post - its list of “The 11 Most Stunning Christmas Trees ponement of the Trojans’ Jan. 7 home game against Kingsford, From Around The World” to none other than the FP’s only game last week. Capital City’s 68-foot stunner.

Jeremy Johnson is one of our part time employees who has been with WIKB for years. He is one of the most reliable em - Brad Zima ployees in Iron River. He helps wherever he is needed from filling in for Starr Helgemo at the front desk, board operator Iron River for sports, handles our Sunday live broadcast and a lot more. He volunteered to decorate our office for the holidays this Program Director year and with the help of his Mom and Dad, Susan and Jim, came up with these miniature replicas. The details and hours spent on these is just amazing and it is worth displaying throughout the year. We are working on putting up a shelf that can display their work all year long.

809 West Genesee Street, Iron River, Michigan 49935 Volume 5 • Issue 1 • January 2014 Page 7 PPaarrkk FFaallllss GM N otes ... By Darla Isham, GM WCQM/WPFP

here is an old saying here in the Northwood’s “You know Tyou grew up in Park Falls when…” and the story proceeds with something memorable that has been part of your history that you will al - ways remember. And so as I was driving through downtown Park Falls a few weeks ago, I came to the stop sign. As I was Darla Isham turning the corner, I saw the finished Park Falls mural project on one of our business VP and General buildings. Manager The murals were a project headed up by the historical society to paint www.wcqm.com community icons who were the ce - ment and mortar of our community and who did great things as leaders. As I turn the corner there it was hit - ting me smack dab in the middle of my emotional network. I pulled over into a parking spot and I have to say became very emotional, because I had no idea that my dearest friend Sandy Dural was being featured in her role as Station Manager for WCQM & WNBI (now WPFP). In 1974 Sandy started at the station as a receptionist, since she was such a go-getter with a great personality, Seeing the WCQM & WNBI sign featured on the mural also tells us that along they asked her to go out and sell the with Sandy this radio station is a huge part of the community’s history and will first annual snowmobile derby. Fif - be for many years to come. teen dollars got you 10, 30-second commercials. She made this promo - tion a huge success all on her own. ing illness on January 18, 2013 she Needless to say the station moved her was a young 68. So the story goes as directly into sales. I was saying, “You know you grew up In 1993 now a station veteran who in Park Falls when you see the bright had done it all, was promoted to sta - smiling face of Sandy Dural, a com - tion manager. A rough time came munity icon, featured on a Park Falls when Sandy fell and broke her arm mural. And when you ask someone and decided that she would take a who is Sandy Dural they would first sabbatical from radio; but never say tell you they remember her from the never, Sandy returned to the station in radio station and share a great story 2000. She again turned up the heat, about something amazing she did for again making huge contributions to the community.” Joel Karnick the success of the station and her It is such an honor for the station to Park Falls community. be featured with Sandy Dural’s image Program Director Sandy sat on the Park Falls Area on the mural and I have been so Chamber of Commerce board of di - blessed to have been her friend, co- rectors, being very active in every worker and radio partner. community event, she was a member Also seeing the WCQM & WNBI of the Flambeau Hospital Auxiliary, sign featured on the mural tells us, became a Park Falls Ambassador in that along with Sandy, these radio sta - her later years and was loved and ad - tions are a huge part of the commu - mired by everyone who knew her. nity’s history and will be for many Sandy passed away from a linger - years to come.

1329 4th Avenue South, P.O. Box 309, Park Falls, Wisconsin 54552