ola radio broadcasting began on July 25, 1961 when 1370 AM KALN (KIOL's former call letters) signed on the air. 1370 AM was a daytime-only operation, as were many radio stations in small towns at the time. The station wasstarted by Lloyd C. McKenney of Carthage, Missouri, who also owned KRMO, Monett, Missouri, and KMDO in Fort Scott. Welcome Stanton was the manager of the station forMcKenney.