Spreading the Good Word Causes N. County Static

When Christian psychologist James Dobson conducted his pornography-made-me-do-it interview with condemned killer Ted Bundy, only one radio station in San Diego County had the full context: KPRZ (AM 1210).

From a studio in San Marcos and a transmitter in Olivenhain, KPRZ (K-Praise) reaches a Christian audience from Baja California to Orange County with music, sermons, news and traffic reports. Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” is heard four times daily on KPRZ as he spreads his own blend of evangelical Protestantism and conservative politics.

Dobson’s Arcadia-based program is heard on 1,200 stations nationwide, making him second only to Paul Harvey among syndicated radio personalities. With the often-controversial Dobson as the programming “anchor,” KPRZ executives are confident that their station has tapped into a devout and growing segment of the local radio audience.

But now the 3-year-old station has run afoul of its upscale neighbors as it attempts to win permission to double its wattage and increase the clarity of its message in far-flung areas such as National City, Chula Vista, La Mesa and Santee.

Among other things, nearby property owners wonder aloud whether the cellular phones, VCRs and color televisions of North County should be put at further risk of static and “bleeding” of voices to enhance the spiritual well-being of East County and South Bay.

“To me, it’s a clear case of one area being asked to suffer the impact so another can get the benefit,” said nearby homeowner Larry Manley. He says his cordless telephone has been rendered useless by KPRZ static and his television is often subjected to “ghosty” images.

The town councils of Olivenhain and Elfin Forest have sent letters of “concern” to the San Dieguito Planning Group, which is reviewing the KPRZ application. A hearing could be held as early as next month before the county Planning and Environmental Review Board, and the issue may eventually be decided by the Board of Supervisors.

At the moment, the brushy terrain near the 195-foot-tall transmitter is only sparsely populated. But that will change soon with construction of the Horizon Country Club development, designed to have a golf course surrounded by 205 pricey homes, some within 2 miles of the KPRZ power source.

David Ruleman, the station’s general manager, is convinced that any problems caused by his transmitter can be corrected technically. He adds that some people may be blaming the station for static kicked up by SDG&E; transmission lines, and he asks for the public to consider the uniqueness of KPRZ.

“We’re the only local station offering a service of this kind,” Ruleman said. “People in areas where reception is limited or where there is no reception are crying out to us. We’re trying to respond.”

Covert Operations?

Front-page headline in the Oceanside Blade-Tribune: “Med Center Directors Poised for Bigger Role in Operations.”

Thanks, but I’d prefer a doctor.

He’s Tops Under Big Top

Nikolai Pavlenko, tiger tamer extraordinaire with the Moscow Circus, is not one to hide his light under a bushel. No one can lack bravado and still make a living for 30 years bending Sumatran tigers to his will.

But even the steely Ukrainian knows his limits. When the Moscow Circus played at the Sports Arena in December, Pavlenko was asked if he considers himself the best tiger trainer in the world.

“Nyet,” he replied without hesitation or embarrassment. “Gebel-Williams is best.”

At age 54, Gunther Gebel-Williams is now on a farewell tour of the United States with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus. It won’t be formally announced until April, but San Diego has been selected as a stop on the tour, and the Ringling circus has been booked into the Sports Arena for early July.

The ballyhoo for the German-born Gebel-Williams will be simple. A 20-foot banner will hang above the center ring with a single word: “Gunther.”