VPR on 1370 Bennington

["David W. Harris" <dwh@totalnetnh.net>]

I noticed Vermont Public Radio including WBTN 1370 Bennington in its ID
this weekend.  A check of the VPR website indicates this arrangement
started last Tuesday although the purchase from Catamount probably won't
be a done deal until the end of the month:
<http://www.vpr.net/wbtnstatement1-14-00.html>
The WBTN schedule includes Morning Edition cutaways separate from the
rest of the network (including WBTN-FM):
<http://www.vpr.net/wbtnamhome.html>
Local veteran Ben Patten is to do local newscasts, Bob Harrington is to
do weekly commentaries, the local Retired Senior Volunteer Program gets
a couple minutes of airtime daily at 7:19, and obits are featured daily
at 7:49.  The statement from GM Mark Vogelzang (the first link above)
indicates this is part of a pledge to continue local programming for
Bennington.  Vogelzang indicates it's still possible the AM may be sold
to a commerical broadcaster, but in the meantime VPR is buying a new
transmitter for the station.