Beaver Communications has taken Country 1380 WAGS Bishopville SC off the air and intends to surrender its license to the FCC unless a “white knight” can be found.

The 1kW AM daytimer failed to apply for an FM translator during either of the past two filing windows. While being the only station licensed to Bishopville, the city of 3,238 is served by stations from the nearby Columbia and Florence markets.

Owner Jim Jenkins, who purchased the station from Bishopville Broadcasting in 2000, wrote the following letter on the station’s website to explain why the station turned off its transmitter for good on Wednesday, February 28.

It’s been a great run. Seems like it was only yesterday, I assumed the stewardship of WAGS radio, returning the style to live and for real, like at its founding in 1954. That was November 2000. I was 53 and proverbially full of spit and vinegar.

Now we’re at February 2018. It’s been 17 years now, 64 since WAGS was founded and life changes. It’s time to step aside. Looking back over those 17 years, the people we’ve met, both here and in the music world, it’s been an honor.

I’d like to think I’ve left a mark with WAGS, a good one, and my time here will be looked on as one of the best in the history of WAGS radio. That the Ginsbergs, the founders, would say “You done us proud.” As I step aside there seems to be no one to step in and assume stewardship of WAGS radio.

It’s with heavy heart that I must take WAGS radio off air at the end of the broadcast day, Wednesday, February 28. Soon the license will have to be surrendered and at that point WAGS-AM will be gone for good.

There is always hope for a last-minute miracle, a “White Knight”, so we can pass the baton. I hope so.

But either way, it’s been a great run. I’m Jim Jenkins. From me and my wife, Dee, Taffy the dog, and the late Wags the dog, I thank you, and it really has been a great run.

Sincerely,
Jim Jenkins