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 Now, almost 12 years later, a page is turning in William Dolan’s
life as WLLM, his beloved radio station, bids Lincoln farewell and
moves operations to Springfield. The local station will close at 3
p.m., Friday, April 1, 2016.
An Open House will be held at the station, 800 Postville Drive,
Lincoln, on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, beginning at 11 a.m. to give
staff and volunteers a chance to visit with friends and supporters
of WLLM. WLLM board members and representatives from station owner,
Cornerstone Community Radio, Inc., will be in attendance to answer
questions, and to thank the community for its dedication and support
for the last 12 years. There is no definite time for the event to
end.
“We’ll keep it going until no one else is coming through the door,”
William Dolan stated, with a sadness softening his voice. “We want
to talk to everybody and anybody who ever listened, volunteered,
donated or called to talk.
 “There have been over 60 people either employed or who volunteered
here,” Dolan continued, “and who lent their talents and skills to
the station’s operation. We couldn’t have done what we did without
them.”
The list of towns those volunteers and supporters call home is long,
and the circle is wide. Lincoln, Pekin, Delavan, Waynesville, Emden,
Sherman, New Holland, and so many others. According to Dolan, there
are over 200 “core people” who interact as a friendly voice in their
Christian faith, forming a tight-knit relationship between community
members. But that is by no means everyone who is part of the large
community of listeners.
“People have been so very generous,” Dolan said, “almost
sacrificially. And their dedication and unselfish devotion to the
station is what has kept it going. We receive almost 90 percent of
the station’s income from listeners. But, it has been a challenge
over the years, and decisions had to be made if we wanted to see
WLLM continue its Christian message to the local communities.”
Currently, Station Manager, Dolan, and the Operations Manager, Pam
Pollard, are the only paid employees, and Pam works only 24 hours
per week. Volunteers include Lincoln Christian University student,
Ann Riddle; Atlanta resident, Zelma Martin, Programming; and Lincoln
resident, Martha Pagel.
Expenses involved with building maintenance, production costs, and
paying even a limited staff has taken its toll. The WLLM board of
directors and Cornerstone Community Radio, Inc., agreed that
eliminating staff and taking operations to the Springfield station (WLUJ)
would allow WLLM to continue broadcasting.
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WLLM will not close, it will simply be moving to another location.
Listeners will use the same frequency, and hear the same music and
programs they have depended on since 2004. With today’s technology
and long-distance communications, it is not uncommon for stations to
use canned programs, and pre-recorded news and information that can
be managed by computers. But Cornerstone appreciates WLLM listeners,
and the relationships that have been established with the station.
They will provide familiar programming to the Logan County area,
with traditional features such as Zion Lutheran’s Sunday services,
among others.
Listeners may continue to support WLLM by sending donations to:
WLLM-WTSG, 600 W. Mason, Springfield, IL – 62702. WTSG is
Cornerstone’s station from Carlinville, which also broadcasts from
Springfield. Any and all support designated for WLLM will be placed
in the station’s account, to help with broadcast costs and
programming.
“I had a close, pastoral relationship with listeners,” William Dolan
said, “and they all hold a special place in my heart. I have such
good memories from speaking with callers, meeting with people, and
making connections.”
One of the most outstanding memories Dolan holds near and dear is
the fact that people came to volunteer, and supported the station’s
mission, without acknowledging they were an inter-denominational
group. Sometimes, Dolan remembers, there would be five or six
volunteers working in the building together, each from a different
church, different denominations, and nobody cared.
“The radio station has been like the hub of a wagon wheel,” Dolan
explained. “All the spokes - denominations, you know-came together
in the middle, at the hub. It fit together and rolled along with one
purpose in mind – to deliver the word of God. And it never failed to
do its job.”
“My wish is,” Dolan said carefully, “that the practice continues. We
have had such a good relationship with all the churches, the Lincoln
Ministerial Association, and individual pastors who believed in the
radio station and its people. I can never say, ‘thank you’ enough to
let them know how much they mean to me. I hope they can all come to
the open house, so we can visit one more time.”
Reverend Dolan believes there is a purpose for him, outside of the
Lincoln community. He does not try to imagine what that purpose is,
at the moment. But when it comes, he will be ready, and looks
forward to the next chapter, the next congregation, and the next
wonderful group of volunteers he knows are out there somewhere.
[Marla Blair]
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