History
Radio Station KCHS took to the air waves in Truth or Consequences (Hot Springs at the time) in September 1946 with a used transmitter and equipment. It operated under a progression of owners until December 1963, when it was purchased by Bairdland Broadcasting.
Neil R. Baird Sr. was principal owner and manager. At the time Baird purchased the station it had had seven owners in 2-1/2 years and was “in the dark” (not operating). Under Baird’s ownership, the first day of broadcast was on Friday, March 13th.
In 1977 KCHS upgraded to a 1000 watt AM station and installed one of the first solid state transmitters west of the Mississippi.
Over the years, Baird and other staff members of the station earned numerous awards for their commitment to providing the “news to its listeners while it was news – and not history.”
Mr. Baird passed away in 1991. His wife, Myrna, continued operating the station with the same dedication to the principals of outstanding public service.
In 1996, Myrna and Patrick Kohs were united in marriage and the two of them reorganized and continued to operate the station under GPK Media, LLC.
KCHS is one of the few remaining stations in the country that is not owned by conglomerates and uses “live” announcers to bring wholesome family entertainment and local news to its listeners.
The radio station continues to be known statewide for its outstanding coverage of the news and public service efforts.
About The Sierra County Sentinel
Patrick Kohs
Publisher / Editor
Frances Luna
Chief Financial Officer
Bethany McCalmon
Office Manager
Susan Brandt
Ad Design
Chuck Wentworth
Staff Reporter / Photographer
Freelance Contributors:
Jimmy Butler
Etta Pettijohn
Mission
The Sierra County Sentinel strives to give its readers unbiased news coverage and on-the-scene reporting whenever possible. It is dedicated to the basic principals of truth and fairness.
History
The Sierra County Sentinel published its first issue on March 2, 1967. Back then, the publication was typed on every-day typewriters, justified by hand, and pasted up the old-fashioned way – using X-acto knifes and wax. 1,000 copies were circulated each week.
Today, 5,000 copies are circulated weekly. The paper is published using the latest in imaging technology and the finest products available in the printing business. Everything from a single ad to an entire page is designed and generated on high speed computers.
Myrna Kohs
The Sierra County Sentinel has always been a leading-edge publication; in January 2001, it became one of the first weekly publications in New Mexico to add full color.
A family operation since the beginning, the Sierra County Sentinel operates alongside the county’s only locally-owned and operated radio station, KCHS 1400 AM. Both KCHS and The Sierra County Sentinel are properties of GPK Media, LLC, which was co-owned and operated by Patrick and Myrna Kohs until her death in November 2011.
With Myrna gone (but never forgotten!), her daughter Frances Luna has stepped up from her previous reporting position to manage various aspects of the business.