Open Doors have golden hinges, and when they are opened wide, the best that life can offer is found waiting there inside...Craig E Sathoff

Twenty-six years ago, on November 28, 1983, WGCY Radio Station in Gibson City signed on the air for the first time. Several years of hard work and determination by John and Bill Noble and my husband, Gary McCullough proceeded that. Back in those days it was considerably harder to get a license to broadcast from the Federal Communications Commission in Washington D.C. Lots of paperwork, aggravation, ups and downs, insides and outs, legalities, formalities, studies, in other words, lots of patience and diligence was required. I remember well the day the construction permit was officially granted, it was the Friday before Labor Day and to add to the excitement, I was two weeks overdue to give birth to our second child. I had just been informed by the Doctor on my visit the Thursday prior that if I was still walking around "with child" on Tuesday after Labor Day, I was to present myself at the hospital bright and early to get things moving. The construction permit was granted the next day, Friday. My hubby got busy on the phone with engineers, carpenters, and equipment salesmen, virtually anybody involved in the preparation work for the Radio Station to make appointments for Tuesday morning. He looked at me with a perplexed look when I asked him, "Have you forgotten something"? "What, he said"? I calmly spoke "We have to go to the hospital Tuesday morning to have this baby, because you know it's not going to happen this week-end." Not missing a beat, he asked me, and I kid you not, "Do you think you can be done by One o'clock"? I remember laughing and said, "Well, I'll do the best I can." So, he put all his appointments off until Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday morning came, we deposited Frank at the Grandparents and trotted off to the hospital around 7:30a.m., I got admitted to the hospital, got things moving along, did my Lamaze breathing and proudly produced our daughter, Ashley at exactly 1:08p.m. I have always taken great pride in that little feat, and always say, "Wasn't I a very accommodating wife"? By 2:00 pm he was out the door and on to his appointments. Less than three months later, WGCY signed on the air waves for the first time. Between son Frank starting pre-school, daughter Ashley being born and getting the Radio Station started up, the next three months were a complete blur. Hubby was gone most of the time, over seeing equipment installation, construction of the Radio Station studios, getting towers erected, printing done, employees hired, over seeing a million and one details. We saw very little of him during that period. I remember how excited and proud we all were to hear a voice say, "WGCY Radio Station, 106.3 FM" for the first time. There have been alot of changes in twenty-six years. John and Bill Noble sold their portion of the station to my Father-in-law, Fred McCullough some years ago and it officially became "F & G Broadcasting, Inc", standing for my Father-in-laws first initial along with my husband Garys' first initial. WGCY has been a family collaboration ever since. I began working at the Station in January of 1986, in fact, my first day working at the Station turned out to be the day the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded and I got a phone call from my children's babysitter telling me what she and all the kids had just witnessed on television. I will never forget that day. WGCY moved it's studios to the building next door, what used to be Steinberg Chiropractic Offices and Grant & Ross Credit Union in November of 1989. Son Frank started helping his dad by keeping the stats during basketball games when he was about age twelve. He also recorded commercial spots at the station at an early age, when a child's voice was required. He later starting helping his dad broadcast basketball games and then football, later. He graduated with a degree in Broadcasting & Communications and started working full-time at the Station after his graduation. He is the current Sports Director and is an advertising salesperson, also. Frank is invaluable to his parents in the day to day operations at the Radio Station. Frank is married to the former Casey Hornstein of Melvin and they are expecting their first child in June of 2010. Daughter Ashley also has done alot of commercial recording throughout the years and worked at WGCY her Senior year of High School at GCMS High School, as a student with the Vocational Cooperative Education Program. Ashley is married to Jimmy Willoby of Pekin and they have a two year old son, Jack. She works as an Aesthetician for Dr. Jeremy Hendrichs, at the Paxton Clinic. Sometimes it gets a little interesting working with your family, but we all have our respective jobs to perform and we keep busy and out of each others hair, most of the time. We have also been very fortunate to have a dedicated and hard-working staff throughout the years, some have come and gone, some have been there for quite a few years. To all of them, we say, "Thank you". There have been a few changes in these twenty-six years, but one thing will never change and that is this family's dedication to serving the Gibson City and surrounding area with beautiful music, sports, news, and all of the other services it provides. We have been privileged to serve the area for twenty-six years. Our family has called Gibson City our home for many years and we have great love and pride for our hometown and are very thankful for all the wonderful advertisers we have had throughout the years. We especially appreciate all the loyal listeners we have, and have enjoyed speaking with, or hearing from them, from time to time. We always appreciate the kind words and compliments we receive and strive to have a Radio Station that we, our listeners, and advertisers can be proud of. My husband, Gary had a dream many years ago that he could come back to his hometown, that he loves so much, and start a Radio Station and I am very proud that he was able to fulfill his dream. It all started many years ago, on Saturday nights we would sit down in his basement, when we were in High School, and he would play records on an old record player and tell me of a dream he had. I knew then, when I heard him speak and saw the look on his face that he would accomplish that, I had no doubt. So, we will continue on as a family owned and operated Radio Station in the town we are so very proud to call our hometown, Gibson City. On to the next 26 years and God willing, beyond!

But let us hold this thought before November days depart...not just for now..Thanksgiving is a season of the heart.....Catherine E. Berry

Soon Thanksgiving will be here. To me, Thanksgiving is the most treasured and overlooked holiday of all. Nestled in between Halloween and Christmas, it is often times the "forgotten" holiday and the one I personally look forward to and enjoy the most. For weeks prior to Thanksgiving I scour through my cookbooks and magazines, and watch the Food Network cooking shows looking for new variations on the old recipes we have all come to love and expect on Thanksgiving. Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is the one that all expect to see their favorites on the table. You can fool around somewhat with Christmas, some have elaborate meals, some have a ball fixing different appetizers and desserts, some have turkey or ham, or prime rib or roast, some do Italian beef sandwiches. But, you just don't mess around with the Thanksgiving menu, lest you find a mutiny of relatives on your hands, at your dinner table. I spend weeks getting my menu in order and sit down to make the list of ingredients needed for all of my family's favorites. I go through my cabinets and throw out all my old spices and get new as I'm just not sure if they were bought last year. Just how many packages of poultry seasoning, sage, and cinnamon get bought new every year? Alot, I bet. I usually get started the evening before Thanksgiving, getting some of the prep work out of the way and I always check my turkey to make sure it is thawed out, I made that mistake one year and had to thaw my turkey in the kitchen sink, using very cold water and changing it quite often. I don't want to mess around with that, ever again. I usually buy my turkey the week-end before Thanksgiving and bring it right home to the refrigerator to spend the next four or five days thawing out. The night before is usually very quiet at my house, as the kids were always out with friends and hubby always found something exciting to partake of while I'm quietly at home chopping vegetables for my dressing. I love the quiet the night before and wouldn't have it any other way. Thanksgiving morning I am always up early and begin my day with my rendition of "Over the river and through the woods, to grandmothers house we go.." I fondly remember singing that in school right before Thanksgiving vacation began in music class. Miss Fogler starting us with a "toot toot" on her magical little round instrument that got us singing the right note. I don't have any idea what that was called, but I just loved it and wanted to have one when I grew up. I'll bet there aren't many of the old gang that attended Gibson City Grade School who don't have memories of Miss Fogler and her magical little instrument. Brings back memories, doesn't it? After I sing that little ditty, the television usually goes on to catch a couple of minutes of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, it's usually on in the background while I'm working away in the kitchen. There is something about cooking and listening to marching band music in the background that gets me going. I always run in to catch the big turkey with the batting eyelashes float and yes, I still run in to see Santa on his sleigh. I always love to watch the Rockettes and their number too. It's just not Thanksgiving without the Macy's Day Parade! I particularly enjoy the big balloons too, and always wonder, just how tired are those people that have to walk along pulling on those ropes for hours and miles and miles? Bet they are hungry and tired when their done! When I was a child I would always walk over to my Grandma Kreitzers house to help with Thanksgiving Dinner. I was fortunate to live right next door on the same farm next to my grandparents. My grandma Kreitzer was a spectacular cook and she would always save a few jobs that I could help with. I had my own special apron she made for me and I also had a special stool to stand on so I could reach the table and counter. I can remember walking into her kitchen and the aromas of Thanksgiving would overtake you. Thanksgiving would soon be here! I always got to help make the scalloped corn, whip the potatoes, butter the rolls before they went into the oven, put the finishing touches on the dressing, and help out with a pie or two. When I am in my kitchen today preparing these same dishes, I fondly think of her and give thanks for her patience with me in the kitchen. I make these dishes just as she taught me those many years ago. The menu at Thanksgiving at my house is the same as then and never will change, even though some additions are made by my daughter-in-law and daughter. I especially enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of Thanksgiving. There is nothing to do but cook and enjoy spending time with family, give praise and bask in it's simplicity. The decorations are so simple and lovely, turkeys, pilgrims, pumpkins, gourds, mums, cornucopias, and leaves. A new addition to my decorations last year is a framed picture of a beautifully colored turkey made out of my then, one year old grandson Jack's hand. It will always be put out along with my other decorations. Take a moment at the beginning of your Thanksgiving to just enjoy the peacefulness and simplicity of the holiday, remember past Thanksgivings and think of family members no longer with you, say a prayer for them along with a prayer of thankfulness for all you have been given, for your family, friends, good health, for all the blessings this life holds for you, for this wonderful country we live in, for all of those serving in the armed forces all over the world who will not be home with their families this Thanksgiving, and especially for those who won't have a Thanksgiving Dinner or a warm place to sleep. Happy Thanksgiving!