As we gather around our microphones this Christmas season, we find ourselves reflecting on a journey that began seventy-one years ago this month—December 13, 1954—when WCBL first crackled to life across Marshall County and the Lakes Area. What started as a dream to serve our community through the airwaves has become something far more precious: a bond with you, our listeners, that has endured through generations.
In this season of twinkling lights and wrapped packages, it’s easy to lose sight of the humble gift that changed everything—a baby born in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago. Christ our Lord came not with fanfare or earthly power, but wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. He came as the ultimate gift of love, hope, and redemption for all mankind.
The true meaning of Christmas isn’t found in the rustle of wrapping paper or the glow of decorations, beautiful as they are. It’s found in that sacred moment when Heaven touched Earth, when God became Emmanuel—”God with us.” It’s found in the promise that we are never alone, that we are deeply loved, and that through Christ, we have hope that transcends every challenge we face.
As we’ve grown from WCBL AM 1290 to include WCBL FM 99.1, WCCK FM 95.7, and marshallcountydaily.com, our mission has remained unchanged: to serve this community we love so dearly. We’ve been privileged to be there for the everyday moments and the extraordinary ones—broadcasting Friday night football games, sharing news of our neighbors’ achievements, providing comfort during storms and difficult times, and celebrating the countless small joys that make life in Marshall County and the Lakes Area so special.
This journey would not have been possible without you. To our faithful advertisers who have believed in us and supported our mission year after year—some of you since those earliest days—we offer our deepest gratitude. You’ve understood that we’re more than just a radio station or a news outlet; we’re a community partner. Your trust and support have allowed us to continue serving our neighbors for more than seven decades.
To our listeners and readers, you are the heartbeat of everything we do. You’ve invited us into your homes, your cars, and your daily lives. You’ve shared your stories with us, called in with your requests, sent us your news tips, and reminded us why local media matters. Every morning when we sign on and every story we publish, we do it for you—because you deserve to be informed, entertained, and connected to the place you call home.
As we celebrate Christmas 2025, seventy-one years after we first went on the air, we’re reminded that the best gifts aren’t things at all—they’re relationships, community, and faith. Just as the wise men brought their treasures to honor the newborn King, we bring you our commitment: to continue serving you with integrity, to honor the trust you’ve placed in us, and to remember always that we’re not just broadcasting to an audience, but speaking to friends, neighbors, and family.
From all of us at WCBL AM/FM, WCCK FM, and marshallcountydaily.com, we wish you a blessed and Merry Christmas. May you experience the peace, joy, and love that only Christ can bring. May your homes be filled with laughter, your hearts with gratitude, and your lives with the hope that comes from knowing Him.
Thank you for seventy-one remarkable years. Here’s to many more years of serving this community we love, together.
Merry Christmas, Marshall County and the Lakes Area. May God bless you and keep you, today and always.
With love and gratitude,
Your family at WCBL AM/FM, WCCK FM & marshallcountydaily.com
PHOTO-Bob Jones Academy
