The Marion station now has a fully equipped backup broadcast system. The station’s main transmitter, modulator, antenna, coax cable and antenna make up the station’s RED system. There is also the BLUE system, which consists of a separate transmitter, modulator, antenna, and coax cable that are in a stand by mode. Should anything happen to any piece of equipment in the red system the blue system is quickly activated by simply turning off the breaker for the RED system and turning on the BLUE system breaker. Although the BLUE system operates with less output power, all station functions are identical for both systems.

David Aiken

My hospital stay in September drove home the point that there must be contingency plans for each TV station. We have begun the training of key people at each station to handle simple emergencies. A supply of essential repair parts have been stockpiled in Marion and we have arranged for Gary Cope, who is both licensed and qualified, to make transmitter repairs when needed.

Leo Gilliam has volunteered his time to help to make the stations more reliable and many changes have already been made. We have identified equipment that has had high failure rates and have taken steps to protect it. The Delaware transmitter and satellite systems have been very susceptible to lightning. An inspection of the grounding system found it to be inadequate. Just $70.00 was spent to upgrade it and there have had no problems since. Before the changes we had been losing LNBs and distribution amplifiers about three times a year. Other high failure items were the Delaware studio to transmitter link and its program router. The link transmitter has now been replaced by a solid state Accrodyne transmitter. A new router was fabricated and installed. It is now working great.

In Kenton, the Studio to transmitter link often needs to be reset after a thunderstorm. Louise Mc Million now resets that system when needed and that saves me hours of travel time. We also hope to have a solid state transmitter for Kenton installed in January. In Delaware, Tom Mc Fann lives less than ¼ mile from the transmitter and he can reset it after power interruptions.

In 2001, I plan to go prospecting in an area where cell phones won’t work and I also hope to make a trip to Katmandu, Nepal. I have vacation time left from last year but have been afraid to go too far away because one of the stations might go down. With the changes being made I can now use some of that vacation time.

The first Saturday night of each month there is a live gospel singing at 36 Spring Street, Delaware, Ohio. The next singing is January 6, 2001 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Featured groups are the Ambassadors for Christ, Pricilla Applegate, and others.

The third Saturday night of each month there is a live gospel singing in Studio A at 1282 N. Main Street, Marion, Ohio. The next singing will be January 20, 2001 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Featured groups are the Kings, Lancaster; Sojourner Ministries, Findlay and Ed and Debbie Damphouse, Marion.

The fourth Saturday night of each month there is a live gospel singing at TV 48, 14 North Main Street, Kenton, Ohio. The next singing is January 27, 2001. Featured groups are Just Joy, Greg Ball and Bobby and Jerry Allen.

Due to the Christmas Holidays, the newsletter is going to press one week early. THANK YOU, our wonderful volunteers who stuff the 1650 newsletter envelopes

7 cups all purpose flour; 1 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon salt;
1 teaspoon soda; 2 teaspoons ginger; 4 teaspoons
Baking powder; 1 cup molasses; 1 cup buttermilk;
2 eggs (beaten well); 1 cup Crisco; 2 teaspoons vanilla.

Cream shortening, sugar and molasses. Add eggs and mix well. Sift flour, spices, soda, salt and baking powder together. Add buttermilk to the first mixture, then add flour. Mix and roll the dough like piecrust. Bake in very thin layers on bottom of cake pans for 12 minutes in 400-degree oven. Fill with cooked dried apples sweetened and spiced to suit taste (like sauce).

1 cup peanut butter
1 box confectioners sugar (2 cups)
2 sticks butter (softened)
1 package crushed graham crackers
1 - 12-ounce semisweet chocolate chips

Mix crushed crackers, butter, sugar and peanut butter until creamy. Spread onto greased cookie sheets (any size). Heat chocolate chips on stove until smooth and spread over peanut butter mixture. Cool and enjoy.

1 unbaked 9" pie shell, ½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup sugar, 1 cup dark syrup,
½ teaspoon cinnamon, 3 eggs,
½ teaspoon cloves, 1 cup quick oats

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add seasonings. Mix in syrup. Add eggs and mix well. Add oats, mixing well. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean

The Love Gift for January is a cassette tape titled SOUTHERN GOSPEL, Share the Joy. This tape features well know gospel singing groups including: Gold City, Crabb Family, Jeff Br Sheri Easter, LordSong, Bishops, Hoppers, Cathedrals, Greens, Walt Mills, Karen Peck and New River. This tape has 15 full-length songs and will be a treasured addition to your collection of Southern Gospel Music. This love gift will be sent to all that donate at least $5.00 to the COACB during the month of January.

Individuals and businesses can provide grants to the COACB for a day of operation. The COACB publicly recognizes grants over its stations, its newsletter, its Internet site and a sign posted in the lobby of its corporate office. Each day of operation costs the COACB $300.

The grants can be made to honor or celebrate anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, graduations, and other joyous occasions, or just to promote the gospel. The grant can also be made in memory of loved ones. To reserve a day, contact Reta at (740) 383-1794.

COACB
1282 North Main Street
Marion, Ohio 43302-1523

(740) 383-1794