For as long as I can remember WSLV has been in Ardmore.  However, when I started doing researching for this article, I found out that Ed Hildreth with the support of others aired WSLV’s first broadcast in Ardmore in 1968.  My family and I moved to Ardmore in 1968 so this explained why I remembered WSLV always being in Ardmore because it was here when I moved here as a child.  

When you tune in to WSLV (Cat Country AM 1110 / FM 105.1) during the week you will hear retro country music like Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Loretta Lynn, and many others.  But it is more than just music, Monday – Friday, from 5:00 – 10:00 am you hear the Double D Show with Darren Parker; 10:00 -noon you hear the John and Heidi Show; and 2:00 -6:00 pm you can hear Tommy Turntable Show with Tommy Merrell.  During the day Nick Simmons broadcast the Skywatch Traffic and Jennifer Narrowmore, meteorologist, broadcast the weather.  

WSLV has also been instrumental in broadcasting our local sporting events as well as play offs and championships in Regional and State level games with three well known Ardmore Tiger sports broadcasters – Rickey Widner, Shane Emerson, and Tim Turner.  You can also hear Rickey and Shane every Saturday morning from 8:00-10:00 on “Get in the Game with Rick and Shane Show” on WSLV. At 10:00 Rowdy Yates broadcast the original County Gold show followed by Tracy Lawrence’s Honky Tonkin’ Show and at 8:00 pm Terri Clark’s County Gold show rounds out the evening.

On Sunday morning until 2:00 pm they play a variety of Gospel music that will put your heart and soul in a feeling of worship.  At 2:00 pm they have a Retro County USA Show and at 4:00 pm they have four hours of Bluegrass with a show titled “Into the Blue.”  Sunday evenings end with a top 25 countdown with Hits with Fitz.

WSLV is one of the few radio stations today that take live call-ins and will take request.  They have a staff of eight here in Ardmore. Daren Parker, Music Program Director; Becky Parker Station Manager; Tommy Merrell, Sales Director and On-Air Personality; Sherry Thornton, Sunday On-Air Personality; Donna Roberson, Promotions; and Sports Broadcasters – Rickey Widner, Shane Emerson, and Tim Turner.

When I think back on WSLV from my own high school days I remember being a WSLV reporter.  This was a program where we had the opportunity to report on events in school over the radio.  Myself and my classmates, Renee King Wales, and Dana Dugger Clem were the Class of 1979 WSLV Reporters.  Each of us went on to careers in education where we had to speak in front of groups of people. I believe putting that microphone in front of me helped build my confidence in speaking to a group of people because I know I always dreaded speaking in front of my class as a teenager.  A walk down memory lane – the first WSLV reports were Cynthia Hobson Shannon and Marsha Gey Shaw in 1972. Just a few past reporters at AHS were Roger Dale Powers, Donna Jo Broadway Curtis, Jim Robison, Donnie Cornelison, Tami Butler Haley, Phyllis Hillis Citron, Janet Goode Price, Lila Meadows Tunstill, Yancy Mitchell, Donna Haney, Jody Hooven, Robert Haney, Robby Shelton, Suzanne Berry Clapp, and Gina Casteel Moore.

WSLV has gone through several changes over the years.  WSLV staff believe one of their major purposes is that are here to serve the community.  They promote community service events Monday through Friday at 7:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.  If you have an event, please make sure to contact the station at 931-427-2178 and they will be glad to assist you.  They also believe they can do help others by their Sunday programming, supporting the area sports events, broadcasting the area sports events, keeping the public up to date with local and national news updates as well as severe weather in times of need.  You can follow WSLV on Facebook at catcountry1110 and streaming their broadcast live.