Free to play at WQNA

More to come As for the future of WQNA, both Jim Pemberton and Jim Grimes talked about the precarious position public education funding puts the CACC and the station in, and they trust school systems will continue supporting the valuable career center.

Pemberton encourages anyone interested in helping out, especially off air with engineering or underwriting, to contact him at the station. Grimes, retired from the station but pleased and happy about its legacy, asserts that radio is fun and, “helps keep people busy and out of trouble.”

As the one currently ultimately responsible for maintaining the station for all concerned, Deb Antoine sees it as an opportunity to offer real experience to students and give the community a radio alternative.

“There’s something quaint and special about keeping it going. Certainly it will always be diverse as long as the community members continue giving and I think they will,” she says. “The commitment and devotion by those involved is just tremendous.”

Perhaps “Blues Power” DJ Mike Goza aptly and succinctly puts it best, “WQNA is a labor of love.”

Contact Tom Irwin at tirwin@illinoistimes.com.