Sheila Callahan & Friends Inc.’s Mountain Broadcasting signed-off its pair of stations in Missoula and Hamilton MT at the end of 2024.
The company operated Hot AC “Mountain 102.5” KMSO Missoula/106.3 K292GH Hamilton and Classic Hits “107.9 The Drive” KHDV Darby/Hamilton and 103.7 K279CP/KMSO-HD2 Missoula.
The company launched 102.5 in 1985 as Easy Listening KUEZ. It would change calls to KMSO in 1987 and then gradually evolve through 1990s to AC and then Hot AC. KHDV would sign-on in 2006 with Country before flipping to Classic Hits in 2013 and adding a simulcast on K279CP in 2015. Callahan has served as General Manager of the company for its 40 year history, with her husband/co-owner Max Murphy holding the roles of CFO and Sales Manager. Murphy is a second generation owner in the market as his father Chet Murphy co-founded 910 KYSS in 1959 and then added 94.9 KYSS-FM as the first FM in the market in 1969 until selling the stations in 1979.
A statement on the KMSO website a message states, “Thank you, western Montana for forty wonderful years. As we say good-bye to our Mountain 102.5 FM family of wonderful staff, sponsors and listeners, please know that we are incredibly thrilled and humbled that you made us part of this community for four decades. It has been our pleasure to serve our listening area with news, information and entertainment. We have shared exciting fun, heartbreaking moments and historic events with you. We would not trade that time for anything. We send our very best wishes to all our friends, colleagues and clients. We wish you a wonderful New Year filled with health, happiness and prosperity.”
Bob cavanaugh 
Lance Venta 
Michael Richard 
CM
Any word on the status of 97.9 KDXT/107.1 K296FM, or associated HD signals and translators, 94.3 K232CI and 95.3 K237DZ? Wikipedia says that is also a sister station to these two, though has the owner as Western Rockies Radio. Seems odd that these two would shut down but not that one.
KDXT was sold in 2013.
Just checked status a few minutes ago. Detailed status for you. KDXT 97.9 is on with their HD on. Hasn’t been this way for probably a year, but returned a few weeks before the holidays. Before that, HD was OFF. HD1 is on and in stereo. Very tinny and bright. HD2 is on (in mono) – identifies as “94.3 – the Ride” and is rebroadcast on a translator at 94.3 in stereo. HD3 is on (mono) and identifies as “Boomer 104” and is rebroadcast on a translator at 104.1. As of a few minutes ago, the HD3 channel (where boomer should be) is on but dead. HD4 is on with religious programming . Not sure where that’s coming from. Stations have been flakey for quite some time now with HD being off more than on or HD being on, but some or all sub-channels being dead or not at the right sub – such as identifying as “KDXT HD-2” but actually being on HD-3. When the HD is off, the translators are still on. Not sure about how the legality of this works and if translators should be on if the HD is not. Probably more information than is needed but that’s the run-down as of today 1/7/2025. As far as I know, I believe the translators were probably sold to Western Rockies Radio several years ago. I remember KHDV identifying as “KHDV Darby and KMSO-HD2” but that was probably back in 2017 or so. Not sure about the accuracy of the Wikipedia article.
This saddens me. I did a project for them back in 2016. It was a small but well-run ship. I wonder if they tried to sell and couldn’t find a buyer.