Loring AFB & Aroostook County Radio

[Dib9@aol.com]

Loring Air Force Base was in Limestone. Maine, which borders Presque Isle and
Caribou in Aroostook County.  The town had a population of about 10,000 in
1990, but has dropped to around 2000 since the base closed in 1994.  There
are a number of things going on a that base, including a Federal Jobs Center
and some private businesses, but the base is basically a ghost town.

I can't see building a new station in that area.  (Is there such a proposal?)
 While the Maine economy has improved with the national economy, unemployment
in Aroostook County is still in double digits and the population is dropping
each year.  The economy has been hurt by the closing of the air base, a
couple of poor years for the potato farmers, and a sharp drop in Canadian
shoppers due to the exchange rate and a new tax collected on items crossing
the border.  Unlike many economic problems which are cyclical, the long term
outlook in Aroostook County is poor.

Several AM stations have gone dark in recent years, at one piont there were
seven AM stations in the county and the only one that is currently on the air
is owned by a church group.  (Some of the other licenses may still be
current, but the stations are dark.)  There are four FM's in Presque
Isle/Caribou, and one of them simulcasts with a Madawaska station.  The
Houlton station (WHOU-FM) simulcats WQDY Calais.

Dan Billings
Bowdoinham, Maine

------------------------------