“I’d rather be in Central Oregon with FM 100, KICE.” Thousands of bumper stickers carried that message back in the 1980s and early 90s. In addition, KICE routinely played a singing jingle which became ingrained in the memories of it’s listeners. You’ll hear it here, although the beginning is clipped off. I grabbed it as part of a routine dial scan, so the jingle had already begun by the time I made it up to 100.7.
Also airchecked here is “Auntie Nan”, hostess of the middays. The KICE crew, also known as “The Radio Rangers” were a group of fun, laid back guys and gals. Their audience was very loyal, definitely not button pushers. I learned this the following year when I competed against them in afternoons on KSJJ.
Reception was made from Madras, OR, using a Realistic AM/FM/CD/cassette portable stereo with built-in telescoping antenna. Whereas most of the other Awbrey Butte FM stations had 100,000 watts, KICE was limited to 50,000. The difference can be heard as a slight white noise on the signal. A Memorex dBS 90 tape was used to preserve the recording.
KICE_Auntie_Nan_Jingle_Jul_11_1989
#1 by Gayle on November 29, 2009 - 6:41 pm
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do you remember Rowdy roy,,,Galllopin Gayle…Mavrick Mark..come on …and we knew how to have tooooo much fun…the Woolin Mill..Wednesday night..do you have Radio Ranger T-shirts? RL?? Dave?? The picker sticker…Pole, Peddle, Paddle?….we created that and was basically the winter olympics /summer olympics…and they filmed Mt. St. Helens there because Mt. Bachelor represented the mountain…go to the sidewalk of the Waterfront building…you will see our names..gayle here..would love to hear from you..cshoremtnlady@yahoo.com…lets remember the best times that Bend will NEVER forget….
#2 by Drew on November 30, 2009 - 7:33 am
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Hi Gayle,
I never worked for KICE. I did afternoons on-air at KXIQ (Q94) during 1988-89, then afternoons on KSJJ (“103 Country”) from 1990-91. But I did know a few of the Rangers: R.L., Levi J., Nan, Pate, and of course Rick Evans a/k/a “Biff Harley!” Fun folks, all of them. I have memories of standing on the river bridge behind their studios, drinking Rainier “pounders” and talking radio with the KICE crew.
I don’t have any shirts, but I have several of the large “I’d Rather Be in Central Oregon with KICE” bumper stickers. The big ones with the green background. Also several tapes which I will continue to post as time allows. I have R.L. and Rick doing mornings, also from 1989.
We (KXIQ) were also involved with Pole Pedal Paddle. I believe we had co-sponsorship of that event, along with KICE. I remember it was a huge deal: our entire staff was there, broadcasting from various points along the route. Big party afterwards at Stuft Pizza in downtown Bend. Fun times!
Drew