“Brother” Stair Succumbs to Heart Attack

~ A major shortwave “loss” was the passing of Ralph (Brother) Stair, who died of a heart attack in early April at age 84. He was in hospice care and still due to face trial on sexual abuse charges. His programs remain on the air via several outlets.

~ This one especially hurts. My SWBC colleague and friend George Zeller died in a fire at his Cleveland home in late March. Zeller was a widely known expert on Ohio economics; he was frequently interviewed or quoted in local and national media — and much admired for his knowledge of pirate radio. His many SWBC friends would occasionally spot him at a Cleveland Indians game sitting next to his drummer friend or donating time as an auctioneer at an SWBC DX gathering, attired in a cheese-head hat (complete with goggles). He’d even confirm his TV sightings. R.I.P. George!

~ I’ll bet you’ve never heard Radio Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Not just because it’s been off the air since lightning struck the transmitter a couple of years ago, but also due to its unfortunate schedule (0600-1500 UTC) on 6210 kHz using a mere 800 watts. The Christian religious station does plan to be back, though the station did not indicate when. So, there’s always hope!

~ Arnie Coro of Radio Havana Cuba (RHC), he of the unkept promises of sending Radio Progresso QSLs (any day now! –GLD), has been unwell — it seems — and consequently the “DXers Unlimited” program, which he hosts, has suffered. The program started using fill-in hosts, but it has now disappeared from the RHC schedule.

~ Italy’s Marconi Radio International, which has been silent for a time, is back in testing mode and says it is installing new antennas, a new transmitter, and repairing other equipment. With the station improvements, it should>.