Lightning Strikes Q101 Radio Tower

Lightning struck the transmission tower of radio station Q101, WLZQ-FM at about 8:30 a.m. today, damaging the station’s main transmitter beyond repair. The tower is located in southeastern Kosciusko County and its signal serves Warsaw, Columbia City, North Manchester, South Whitley and other parts of Kosciusko, Whitley, Wabash and Huntington Counties. From about 8:30 a.m. to about 11 a.m., The New Q101 was off the air completely. At about 11 a.m., the station returned to the air, using a backup, low-power transmitter. The back-up transmitter is operating at approximately five percent of the station’s normal power, according to The New Q101 General Manager Chris Larko.

“We still have a good signal in Warsaw, Columbia City, North Manchester and South Whitley,” Larko said, “But listeners in outlying areas and inside buildings might have some difficulty receiving our signal until we replace the main transmitter.”

Larko said the station continues to make its program available to listeners via its web site, TheNewQ101.com. He said it is too early to know how soon a new transmitter might be on the air.