History
KWIL 1240 AM had signed on the air in 1941. It decided to add an FM station to simulcast its programming. The first KWIL-FM began broadcasting on October 15, 1947, on 101.7 MHz. [3] But few people owned FM receivers in that era and management saw little opportunity to make the station profitable. It was deleted from FCC records on August 21, 1956. [4]
In the late 1960s, KWIL, now at 790 AM, decided to try adding an FM station again. The new KWIL-FM began broadcasting at 107.9 MHz, on January 12, 1969. KWIL had been a long-time religious broadcaster and KWIL-FM used the same format, although with a different programming schedule.
In 1972, the station took on a different call sign, KHPE. The letters stood for the word "Hope." Over time, the Christian talk and teaching programs were reduced, replaced by Christian Contemporary music, more suitable for FM listeners. The station sells advertising time but also accepts donations from listeners on its website.
