Western Radio Station Comes Crackling to Life : New K-TND (105.5-FM) is sharing the county airwaves with K-HAY. A debut party is planned for Sunday.

If you were tuning your radio about 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, you may have noticed an oddly quiet spot on the dial followed by crackling and thunder sounds. But that wasn’t static. It was the dramatic debut of Ventura County’s new country radio station, K-TND, Thunder Country (105.5-FM).

As the county’s second country radio station, K-TND shares the airwaves with K-HAY (100.7-FM). So now you’ve got the luxury of channel surfing between commercials and the zillionth time someone plays the latest Billy Ray Cyrus hit.

To introduce listeners to K-TND, on-air personalities Bob Allen and Billy Gibson will host an outdoor debut party Sunday in Thousand Oaks.

Bring the family out to enjoy a free tri-tip barbecue, giveaways, and live country music by Platte River Crossing. Rick Henderson will teach “The Thunder Thrust,” a line dance that he and David Graves choreographed for the occasion.

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CLIP & SAVE: Fanfest ’94. Until now country music fans had to go to Nashville to meet and greet their favorite stars at Music City’s annual Fanfair. But with a quick drive to Pomona, they can participate in Fanfest ‘94, expected to be country music’s largest fan-driven event and the first of its kind on the West Coast. Fanfest ’94 will take place 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 4 through May 7 at Fairplex, the Los Angeles County Fair and Exposition Complex in Pomona.

This four-day event will feature continuous performances by stars of country music, new country showcases, 800 display booths, autograph and photo opportunities with the stars and much more. And Fanfest ’94 will donate all profits from ticket sales to Earthquake Relief in Los Angeles. Spokesmen said that if Fanfest ’94 sells out as anticipated, the donation could exceed $1 million. A four-day ticket costs $99 per person. Children age 2 and younger get in free. Tickets are on sale at all Pavilions grocery stores. For information or to order tickets by mail, call (800) 550-3267. To reserve a booth, call (310) 247-0744.

Details

* WHAT: K-TND Radio Listeners Appreciation Party

* WHERE: Westoaks Chrysler-Dodge, 3839 Auto Mall Drive, Thousand Oaks

* WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday

* ETC: K-TND’s listener line for comments, 650-6999; request and contest line, 650-7999.