M.B. Kahn Executive Calls Airport Detractors "Chicken Littles"

For a company that has made "hundreds of thousands of dollars" so far from Horry County on the airport debacles, M.B. Kahn has now taken to "name calling" of the citizens of Horry County who did not fall in line with the defunct "West Side Taj Mahal" as "chicken littles". Senior Executive Mr. Rick Ott chose the wrong example stating that our fathers had the insight to build all those interstates years ago, since most of those interstates missed South Carolina.

His comments show that he is $$$ driven stating that Myrtle Beach always loses some flights in the Fall and Winter and seems positive the Airline Industry will turn itself around. The projections of future passengers originally used in the push for the West Side Terminal by the FAA have been totally revised, the figures were based on crude oil at $35-$40 per barrel, not $130-$140 per barrel, and the "then" current state of the airline industry. Mr. Ott fails to mention the Billions of dollars in debt these airlines have returned to; the loss of the Spirit Hub at LaGuardia and the continued cancellation of flights at the smaller destinations like Myrtle Beach on a daily basis, adjusting to these fuel costs.

It seems like the "chicken littles" he speaks of is just more sour grapes because the original "Grand Strand Plan" was shut down by the Myrtle Beach Community Appearance Board, and justifiably so. The first project was "ramrodded" down the residents throats with no public input meetings as required by the FAA, and County Officials like Attorney John Weaver stating on my radio show that it would cost just as much to renovate the current terminal as it would to build a new one. Then, just before the last CAB Meeting, 4 comparison engineering plans surfaced showing expansions at the current site for 1/3 of the cost. If it were not for the "chicken littles" involved, the County would be "wasting" hundreds of millions of dollars.

Horry County and Airport Officials continue to say that the prices to fly from Myrtle Beach are in line with the rest of the similar terminals on the east coast which is also not true! These costs, coupled with fuel prices and planes not filled to capacity will result in further cancellations for the Grand Strand. Sure, there are deals from our airport, but if you are a family planning 6 months to a year ahead, those deals are almost non existent.

Our current airport is in a state of "disrepair" only because of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality of the leaders in control or the terminal. Their thought, that has been conveyed to me many times by airport employees was "we are building a new terminal on the West Side, so we are told to just fix what we have to". So much for "preventative maintenance".

These are just a few of the reasons that these "chicken littles" have gained the attention and support of Senator Luke Rankin and Representative Alan Clemmons to create an Airport Authority. It is time that the Politicians and the Puppet Airport Director Bob Kemp and this 20+ person chain of command in the current management structure be eliminated and an Airport Authority be created to eliminate the "riff" between the City and the County! An Airport Authority doesn't seem like a great solution to some, but it will sure be better than the current structure the County is operating under.

Elvis (15 of them) Is In The Building At Legend's In Concert

It's going to be a "really big show" at Legends in Concert Saturday July 19th for the "Ultimate Elvis Tribute" sponsored by Legends in Concert in conjunction with Elvis Presley Enterprises. The competition begins at 8pm when yours truly, along with 2 other judges will pick the winner of the Myrtle Beach Competition to continue on and hopefully win a contract to perform at the fantastic "Legends In Concert". If you are an Elvis fan, call 238-STAR and get your tickets for this special contest with 15 Elvis impersonators looking to move forward. A very special "thank you" to Chris Beatty, the manager at Legends in Surfside for asking me to be a part of this very special show and contest. Chris Beatty and Legends was always a big supporter of the "Krieger and Company" morning show on Sunny 106.5 (now Sunny 103.1)not only with just free tickets to the show. When we started the "Jessie's Law" campaign for signatures on the petitions, Chris and Legends was there! When we did the homecoming for the Myrtle Beach National Guard, Chris and Legends was there. When I hooked up with Jack Platt to take the WWII Veterans to Washington, DC, Chris and Legends was there with a free show for them. Thanks to Elvis, Ryan Pelton for coming out to perform in something I have never seen at the show in Surfside, an Elvis in khaki's. I'm looking forward to seeing all of the Grand Strands Elvis fans and some of the old Krieger and Company listeners this Saturday night...Call 238-STAR today!

Speaking of today.....today, July 14, 2008 marks the day I head to the Magistrates Office to try and bring closure to my release, firing, separation or whatever you call it from Cumulus Broadcasting Of Myrtle Beach. Since April 4, 2008, I have been trying to get the remainder of my personal items and some items from the "Adopt A Tree Highway" paid for by the listeners and the community. After being marched out of the building like a "criminal" on April 2, 2008, I have been "stonewalled and blocked" from coming back to re-claim these items that include:

**Personal Computer and Printer
**Set Of Keys to By-Pass equipment and trailer locks
**Tarp, straps and bungee cords for trailer
**2 Almost new 6 foot pitchforks
**Personal calendar appointments were kept on


After being told several times these items were being collected for me to pick up, Cumulus then started a "trading" dialogue after I wore an "X'ed" out Sunny t-shirt to work in the bypass. The prerequisite to getting these items was for me to bring back all of my shirts with the Sunny 106.5 logo's on them along with the signs from the trailer. After asking for these items on more than 5 different occasions, in writing, I have just been informed by Human Resources Head Nancy Zito that none of these articles could be found! This was long after Cumulus Corporate Attorney Richard Denning wrote to my attorney telling him to arrange a time to pick these items up. The items in question were (computer and printer) hooked up in the Sunny studio with my name written on them with a magic marker. The remainder of the items were stored in the Sunny 106.5 PT Cruiser.

It seems that Ms. Zito has trouble keeping track of things. On February 24, 2008, I submitted bills totalling $997.00 for "Adopt A Tree" expenses. After repeatedly asking for payment for those bills, I find out from Mr. David Love from the South Carolina Department of Labor (who I had to work with for compensation owed) that Ms. Zito had also "lost" them. However, after signing with the SCDOT to take over the "Adopt A Tree" highway for the next two years, and refusing to bring any equipment related to that project back to the station, Cumulus finally backed off that demand and sent me the balance of the fund, $1697.00. So, I can now reimburse myself for the bills from February and the expenses incurred since that time, which will leave about $300 left in the fund.

Hats off to Sons Of Italy President Joe Crisalli and Sons Member Don Pagani who have set up a charity golf tournament to benefit the "Adopt A Tree" highway. I will be meeting with Joe and Don today, the tournament will be on Saturday, November 1st at the International Club in Murrells Inlet. Please mark that date on your calendar, I will have more information after our meeting today, July 14th.

Speaking of November, we still have the Veterans Bus Trip over the weekend of November 8th and 9th to Washington, D.C. to the Veterans Memorials and to Arlington National Cemetery. Your transportation, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast and lunch and room are all included in the price of $200.00 per person. Need some more info or to sign up, just e-mail me louk1065@aol.com and I will send you a flyer or call you back. Our bus is filling up fast for the trip, deadline to sign up is August 31st.

Lou Krieger and Company Adopt A Tree Highway

In December of 2002, I signed with the Department of Transportation of South Carolina for the creation, expansion and maintenance of the 2 mile long 'Adopt A Tree" highway that runs from Glenns Bay Road south to the Garden City Connector. Since my termination from Sunny 106.5 and Cumulus Broadcasting of Myrtle Beach, I have been fighting for "reciprocation" of more than $1200 in expenses and the remainder of the equipment purchased to maintain the highway. At one point, Cumulus and their attorney Richard Denning were insistant that I return the equipment I have here at home since it is the "property" of Cumulus Broadcasting. In a return letter to Cumulus Attorney Richard Denning, I advised him that all funds were from donations from our listeners, the community and what was raised with charitable golf tournaments and not a penny came from Cumulus Broadcasting. After following order from the State Department of Labor and sending a certified "letter of demand" giving Cumulus 15 days to pay me or go before the "Master of the Court", I not only received my payment, but the balance of the "Adopt A Tree" fund. Since I did not have a chance to have a benefit golf tournament this year, after reimbursing of the current expenses, we have a little over $300 left and that will no last long. Mysteriously disappearing from the Sunny PT Cruiser were two pitchforks, a tarp, bungee cords, and ratchet tie downs that are nowhere to be found according to HR Manager Nancy Zito. I have sent Cumulus of Myrtle Beach a bill for not only that equipment, but my personal backup computer and printer that were in the Sunny studios that they also could not find. I have given Layne Ryan the Market Manager and HR Manager Nancy Zito to either replace these items or come up with the cash value by Friday July 11th or I will take them before the Magistrate to attempt to have them pay the replacement cost. The "Adopt A Tree" highway is now my personal highway for the next two years to maintain. I could not have signed an agreement to do that without the help of my volunteers, Buddy Sessions, Patrick Burke and Gary Frank who have been working and volunteering their time for the past 5 years. Additionally, a huge thank you goes out to Larry Gross from L & L Landscaping and Pools. Larry has been donating the mulch we use on the beds for the past two years and will continue to donate the mulch as long as I am involved with the project. The contribution of Larry and L & L to the by-pass is almost $3,000 retail cost this year alone. A huge thanks goes to Larry and Linda Gross, Buddy, Patrick and Gary, and to those of you who have contributed to the "Adopt A Tree" project

I believe the "Sons Of Italy" at the request of President Joe Crisali and member Don Pagani are trying to put together a Fall Golf Tournament to raise funds for their club and for the beautification project. This is a "very special" place we have in our community that we continuously try to trim and maintain and always add more color as money permits. This "adopt a tree" highway has been a labor of love and a beautiful portion of the Hwy 17 By-pass to drive by. It will only get prettier as things mature each year. God bless all of you who have donated to make this vision a reality and something people will admire for years to come.

Krieger and Company In The Morning

Since I have been "discharged" from service at Sunny 106.5, I have kinda kept it quiet about my dealings with the company, (Cumulus) after I was walked out the door by HR Person Nancy Zito like a criminal. By now you have heard the stations transition for 106.5 to 103.1 with John Boy and Billy in the Morning and Album Rock....Don't you fans of Oldies just love the music? And how about all that information we used to give you in the morning? Or how about the opportunity for you to be a part of the show, on hear information on what events were happening around the area.

I'm sitting here 90 days since my release and I still cannot believe Market Manager Layne Ryan talked the Corporate Boys into such a "screw up". Hey how about that research on name the new Country station "The Wolf" with another "Wolf" coming into Georgetown and Southern Horry County from Charleston. So now Hooooooowwwwwwlllllll! they are the Coyote.

In a letter I have from Cumulus Corporate Attorney Richard Denning, Mr. Denning claims I was also cut to lower the overhead on talent and save money. So what do they do, run the John Boy and Billy Show costing twice as much as I was making "live" with ratings.


More to come: