A community staple for over 13 years was commemorated on Wednesday as K105’s In The Know celebrated show number 3,000 at the historic, beautifully restored Alice Theatre.
Attended by family, friends, dignitaries, frequent contributors and guests, along with the return of longtime co-host Misty Embry Thomas (aka Misty Thomas), the two-hour program, hosted by MB (aka Mark Buckles, Founder/CEO of Heritage Media of Kentucky), offered a dose of nostalgia and behind-the-scenes scenarios on the genesis of the popular morning show.
First broadcast on May 17, 2011, the seed of an idea for In The Know came from Thomas a few years earlier following a Kentucky Broadcaster’s Association (KBA) training conference she attended as K105’s news director.
“(Mark) decided to take me to a KBA conference for training. I remember sitting in the room with I don’t know how many other DJs and radio people,” Thomas said. “It was at a time that satellite radio was coming into our world and there was this fear that small town radio was going to become antiquated and maybe even dissolve. This was probably 2007 or 2008. And I remember coming back from that particular training, and the idea that I took away that they were really pushing was that you have to be so local that people want what you’re offering. You have to be so different than satellite radio, and I just knew that there had to be a show.”
Thomas noted that the station already offered a plethora of local content, but something, in her mind, was missing.
“We had local news, we had Community Calendar, we had Lodge Notes, we had Tradio, we had all those things, but there wasn’t a local talk show,” she said. “So I came to you and said, ‘Mark we need a local morning show.’ And I never once thought I would be on the show, I was just pushing. And you immediately … said, ‘No, no, no. Misty, go, go back to your office, no,’ jokingly and lovingly, and I just kept pushing, like the middle child I am, pulling on you and saying, ‘Mark I really think we need a local show.’”
It continued to be a hard “no” from Buckles …
“And then the ice storm hit in 2009,” Thomas stated. “And I’m in my office; we were living at the radio station, and I’m in my office and (Mark) popped (his) head in and said, ‘You remember that local morning show that you want to start?’ And I said, ‘I do,’ and (Mark) said, ‘Get your notes ready, it starts in an hour.’”
And just that quickly, the Grayson County community was introduced to what would become In The Know.
The show, born out of Buckles’ and Thomas’ experience providing vital information to listeners during the 2009 Ice Storm, two years later became an almost immediate must-listen for those who desired to stay informed on what was happening locally while featuring local leaders of industry, politics, law enforcement, and other areas of import and interest.
“In The Know has been an important vehicle in our community for many years,” Leitchfield Mayor Harold Miller said. “They have, with integrity and humor, kept us all up to date with things we need to know to make daily decisions based on the information provided (by the show). Mark and his crew have been wonderful community partners through the years, and I wish them many more.”
Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson, who previously served in law enforcement, echoed Miller’s sentiments regarding the key role In The Know has played in keeping the community informed of important events.
“K105 and In The Know have been an asset to our community by keeping everyone up-to-date with what’s going on within our area,” he said. “Several times throughout my career they have been pivotal in getting information out to the public quickly so our residents can remain safe and informed.”
The diversity of the program has furthermore been a key element in its attraction to local listeners, according to KBA President/CEO Chris Winkle, who attended the In The Know 3000 show gala.
“A show like In The Know has to appeal to a broad sector of people. If you think about it … everybody is living a different life and a different season in their life … so there are a different set of ears listening each and every morning. So to be diverse, to appeal to that, Mark and the team, they do a fantastic job with hitting you with the quick information. Whether that be news, sports, weather, but also to have the engagement with the guests.”
The list of frequent guests on In The Know are a testament to the “appeal to a broad sector of people” that the show has become.
Frequent guests on In The Know include Henderson and Miller, along with Grayson Co. Sheriff Norman Chaffins, Grayson Co. Alliance Executive Director Debbie Childress, The Ceclian Bank Banking Center Manager Steven Smith, Grayson Co. Health Department Director Josh Horton, University of Kentucky Extension Office Agents Whitney Carman and Natalie Taul, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Public Information Officer Chris Jessie, and First Baptist Church of Leitchfield Associate Pastor Dennis Cook (a Tuesday show regular), along with many others.
Now featuring MB, Beege (Christy Buckles, K105 general manager) and K105 play-by-play broadcaster and Digital Director Sam Gormley, In The Know’s diverse guest list and coverage of local events have become the hallmarks of the show’s long-term success, and why MB exclaims, “Don’t be stupid, get in the know.”
The Alice Theatre
When selecting where to hold the ITK 3000 show celebration, what better location could there possibly be than the newly renovated Alice Theatre.
Purchased by Robert and Mandi McKinzie in September 2021 after sitting dormant and falling into disrepair for years, the Alice Theatre and Alexander Hotel have become a beacon of beauty on the Leitchfield Town Square.
The Alice Theater has shown ET: The Extra-Terrestrial and Jaws as well as hosted sold-out comedy shows and concerts.
The renovation of the properties, which cost in excess of $1 million, resulted in an eyesore transforming into a sparkling showcase for Leitchfield and Grayson County.
“I cannot tell you how great the Alice Theatre looks; the lighting, the stage, the setting … the venue itself, I am so happy,” Thomas said. “I can’t tell you how excited I am for the community. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that if somebody came in to rehab this building would they take it to the next level. I’ve had friends come in that do not live in Grayson County; stay here and say, ‘This belongs in Nashville’ … They took it to a whole new level that I don’t think anyone had a vision for.”
(Headline photo l-r: Mark Buckles, Mayor Harold Miller, Misty Thomas, Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
