KAJN Radio Tower Accident Update 2-28-19
WE WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON WHERE WE ARE ON GETTING BACK TO FULL POWER. WE ARE SIX MONTHS FROM THAT TRAGIC MORNING ON AUGUST 31ST, WHEN A FATHER AND DAUGHTER WERE KILLED WHEN THE PRIVATE PLANE, THEY WERE FLYING IN HIT THE OLD TV 3 TOWER THAT WE HAD BEEN BROADCASTING FROM AT AN ANTENNA HEIGHT OF 1,550 AT 100,000 watts. WE CONTINUE TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER THE FAMILY OF THOSE KILLED.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE HAD EXPECTED TO BE AT LEAST AT A STRONGER TEMPORARY POWER AND MAYBE EVEN BACK TO FULL POWER BY NOW. WE HAVE BEEN DENIED THREE SEPARATE TIMES TO PUT OUR BACKUP ANTENNA AT A HIGHER HEIGHT TO IMPROVE OUR TEMPORARY SIGNAL. THE REQUESTS HAVE INCLUDED GETTING STRUCTURAL STUDIES DONE TO SEE IF THE TOWER COULD HANDLE OUR EQUIPMENT. SO, EVERY TIME, WE WERE TOLD NO, THAT MEANT MORE TIME AND EXPENSE TO TRY GETTING ON ANOTHER TOWER. WHICH HAS BROUGHT US TO THE ONLY TWO OTHER TOWERS IN OUR AREA TO TRY TO GET ON TEMPORARILY. THESE ARE THE SAME TWO TOWERS THAT WE’VE BEEN TRYING TO GET APPROVAL BY THE OWNERS, SINCE SEPTEMBER, TO GET ON FOR OUR PERMANENT SOLUTION THAT WOULD GET KAJN BACK TO FULL COVERAGE AND POWER. FROM THE FIRST DAY OF THE TRAGEDY.
WE HAVE FINALLY HEARD BACK FROM ONE OF THE TWO TOWER OWNERS, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO LET US BE AT 800 FEET FOR A TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT. THEY ALSO HAVE APPROVED US FOR THE 1,600 FOOT PERMANENT FIX. WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE OTHER TOWER ON THE 1,600 FOOT POSSIBLITY BUT HAVE DECIDED NOT TO WAIT ON THEM FOR THE 800 FOOT TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT. WE HAVE BEGUN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING EQUIPMENT PURCHASED AND READY TO INCREASE OUR TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT.
(KAJN NEW STL DISH & BACKUP ANTENNA FOR TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT)
GOD HAS BEEN WORKING MIRACLES. FOR EXAMPLE, TO GETTING US BACK ON THE AIR WITHIN ELEVEN HOURS, TO SPARING OUR TRANSMITTER FROM DESTRUCTION TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE DAY OF THE TOWER FALLING AND THE SECOND TIME WHEN OUR TRANSMITTER BUILDING BEGAN TO BE TORN DOWN WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE.
WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, WE ARE NOW WAITING TO GET A QUALIFIED TOWER CREW TO DO THE TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT. WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS, TOWER CREWS ARE BOOKED UP, AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BOOK A CREW FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW.
ALSO, ONCE WE DECIDE WHICH TOWER TO GO ON FOR OUR PERMANENT SOLUTION, THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE AN APPEAL TO THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO GET APPROVAL TO MOVE TO THAT TOWER. WE’VE BEEN TOLD BY CONSULTING ENGINEERS, THAT THEY DON’T BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE KAJN A WAIVER TO BE ON EITHER TOWER, BECAUSE THE TOWERS ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR APPROVED ZONE TO HAVE AN ANTENNA AT FULL HEIGHT AND POWER.
(highlighted section is our approved zone)
IF THE FCC DOES NOT GIVE US A WAIVER TO BE ON ONE OF THE TWO TALL TOWERS AT 1,600 FEET WITH A FULL OUTPUT POWER OF 100,000 watts, THEN THE ONLY OTHER WAY TO RECLAIM OUR FULL SIGNAL WOULD BE TO BUILD A TOWER IN OUR APPROVED ZONE. WE HAVE STARTED LOOKING FOR LAND TO PURCHASE OR LEASE IN CASE IT COMES TO THAT BUT ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM SOME LAND OWNERS.
WE HAVE BEEN ANCHORED TO PSALM 37 THROUGH ALL OF THIS. VERSE 8 SAYS “DO NOT FRET-IT ONLY LEADS TO EVIL. VERSE 18 & 19 SAYS “THE BLAMELESS SPEND THEIR DAYS UNDER THE LORD’S CARE, AND THEIR INHERITANCE WILL ENDURE FOREVER. IN TIMES OF DISASTER THEY WILL NOT WITHER, IN DAYS OF FAMINE THEY WILL ENJOY PLENTY”. THE FIRST PART OF VERSE 7 SAYS “BE STILL BEFORE THE LORD AND WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM”. THROUGH ALL OF THE WAITING, WE KEEP REMINDING OURSELVES THAT WE ARE WAITING ON THE LORD, NOT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS AND SUPPORT FOR KAJN CHRISTIAN RADIO. WE ARE TRULY TRUSTING THE LORD FOR MORE MIRACLES!
BLESSINGS,
BARRY THOMPSON & CRAIG THOMPSON
P O Box 1469 Crowley, LA 70527
Main Office 337-783-1560 * Lafayette 337-232-5599 * Lake Charles 337-433-1322*
Fax 337-783-1674 * Family Vision TV 337-289-6900 *
Upper Room Prayer Ministry 337-783-2000
