Radio tower theft baffles police, station general manager

Questions remain after a 200-foot radio tower was stolen in an Alabama town, knocking a local AM station off the air.

The crime left the WJLX station’s general manager, Brett Elmore, and the Jasper, Alabama, police department, blown away and confused.

“I have been in the radio business, around it all my life and then in it professionally for 26 years, and I can say I have never heard of anything like this. I can say I’ve seen it all now,” said Elmore in a statement.

When the tower was stolen, the Federal Communications Commission gave the AM radio station temporary authority to continue broadcasting on the FM side, but soon told them they were no longer allowed to broadcast.

“It’s been a nightmare,” Elmore told USA TODAY.

The station is a huge part of Elmore’s life and history. His dad worked at the station in the ’80s and he grew up running around the halls. The heartbreaking theft and subsequent shutdown caused Elmore sleepless nights while he figured out what to do next.

“This is part of my fabric,” said Elmore. “It’s more than a job, it’s part of my life.”

How was the radio tower stolen?

According to the statement sent out by the station, Elmore learned about the theft of WJLX’s tower at the beginning of the month.

A landscaping company went down to the tower Feb. 2, which was located in a wooded area behind a local poultry plant. When they arrived, they realized someone else had taken way more than they needed to.

“It is like a like a beehive of activity,” said Elmore.

He says thieves were likely able to use that to their advantage.

“Anyone could have snuck out of there, and nobody would have thought twice about it because a cut-up tower looks just like scaffolding,” said Elmore.

Elmore believes the thieves stole the tower to profit from selling the metal.

Police urged anyone with information regarding the incident to contact either JPD at 205-221-2122 or Crime Stoppers at 205-221-505.

AM station is back on air

How the crime was committed and who did it remain a mystery, but Elmore got some news a few nights ago that changed the station’s dire situation.

The GM got a call from a New York number while he was sitting in his recliner, watching the evening news. On the other line was iHeartRadio’s President of Programming Operations and Digital Music, John Zellner, asking him what he could do to help.

“They wanted to help us in any way they possibly could,” said Elmore. “They’re radio people, just like I am.”

And help they did. The radio company got WJLX back on air.

iHeartRadio set the station up on its app and lent them one of its HD3 signals in Birmingham.

The station now has iHeartRadio’s HD signal set as its originating station. So, it’s able to broadcast to FM radio again.

According to Elmore, the station has an FM tower because of the AM Revitalization Act that occurred about 13 years ago. Because of the program, the FCC gave standalone AM stations, such as WJLX, the chance to rebroadcast their shows on the FM side of the radio.

Because of the program, the radio station could rebroadcast only if they had an originating station. Without the AM tower, it no longer had an originating station and could not broadcast to FM radio.

What is the replacement cost?

The station has started a GoFundMe to help recoup the cost of the tower.

Since the property wasn’t insured, Elmore thinks it would cost $60,000 to replace the tower. So far, the station’s GoFundMe has raised over $19,000.

“We’re still a ways away, and that’s OK,” said Elmore.

He’s had many people reach out to ask how they can help, and he said anyone who wants to donate can do so at the GoFundMe.