WKKM-From Country King to Kings of Kings

The public is invited to an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at the WKKM office at 209 E. Spruce St. The event will feature tours of the office, silent auction, free concessions, and more. They can be reached by emailing wkkm1065@gmail.com.

WKKM-Kings of Kings Media

209 E. Spruce St
Harrison, mi 48625

By ANGELA KELLOGG-HENRY

Cleaver Managing Editor

HARRISON – WKKM, Harrison’s first radio station recently came back on the air after several years. Behind those new airwaves is Gary Biggs, pastor at Hope Baptist Church of Harrison. Biggs purchased the estate of local radio icon Dave Carmine who passed away in 2022.

Carmine founded the station in the 1970s and it was Harrison’s first radio station. Though retired, in 2014 Carmine brought back WKKM on 106.5 FM. The non-profit station played an automated playlist of old country favorites, and a few times a week Carmine read on air local news and events pulled from the Clare County Cleaver and local organizations. This lower power version of his station could be heard 10-15 miles in any direction from Harrison.

Carmine had billed WKKM, “The Country King” and the slogan of the new non-profit is “We’re King of Kings Media.” The station will broadcast as a conservative Christian radio station going live several times a week for local news, events, obituaries, interviews and other items of local interest on FM 106.5. It is also a non-profit station.

Biggs, a 12-year Air Force veteran, pastor and Clare County Sheriff Reservist, is also a talented handyman. He’s used his skills along with a lot help and elbow grease from his wife, Sheila, to clean and remodel Carmine’s home for resale as well as completely remodel the WKKM office at 209 E. Spruce St. in Harrison.

Biggs went on to describe the transformation of the WKKM office.

“So far, the records sold paid for 100% of renovations, and the residual monies I found tucked hither and yonder [in the office] paid for tree removal and to get the satellite dish out,” he said. “So far, God has provided pretty well. We bought the studio equipment and everything else my wife and I have done.”

This summer Biggs will attend studio training and begin planning for live broadcasts.

One piece of radio history will stay local as WKKM is donating to the Clare County Historical Society a broadcast station that includes an L-shaped desk with turntable and other relics like tape recorders and rotary phones.

The Cleaver worked with Carmine for many years as a media partner and we welcome the opportunity to work with WKKM once again.

Listen to the radio station on FM at  106.5. The public is invited to an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at the WKKM office at 209 E. Spruce St. The event will feature tours of the office, silent auction, free concessions, and more. They can be reached by emailing wkkm1065@gmail.com.