♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," ENROLLMENT IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS DOWN BIG TIME IN ARIZONA.

>> ALSO TONIGHT, MEET A LOCAL STORM CHASER FEATURED ON AN UPCOMING EPISODE OF NOVA.

>>> AND A NEW EXHIBIT TAKES VISITORS ON A JOURNEY THROUGH PHOENIX RADIO HISTORY.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY REPORTS THAT ENROLLMENT IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BETTER KNOWN AS S.N.A.P., HAS FALLEN DRAMATICALLY IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

FEWER FAMILIES ARE QUALIFYING DUE TO TIGHTER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON LOCAL NONPROFITS THAT OPERATE MEAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES.

AND FOR MORE ON THAT, WE WELCOME IN KERRY ARHONDA, DIRECTOR OF MISSION ADVANCEMENT AT THE TEMPE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY.

A LOT GOING ON THERE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS, GREAT TO BE HERE.

TED: GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF S.N.A.P.

IS IT FOOD STAMPS AND MORE?

>> THAT'S THE CLOSEST THING IS THE FOOD STAMPS.

SO IT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO HAVE THE EXTRA INCOME TO PURCHASE GROCERIES, NOW ON A DEBIT CARD.

THEY TAKE IT TO THE GROCERY STORE, THEY BUY WHAT THEY NEED AT THE GROCERY STORE.

TED: AND IT'S DOWN, ESPECIALLY THE PAST THREE MONTHS SIGNIFICANTLY.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS CHANGED.

A LOT OF EXEMPTIONS GOT TAKEN AWAY AS WELL AS D.E.S.

IS RUNNING A BACKLOG.

YOU GET PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR BENEFITS OR TRYING TO GET BENEFITS AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO SO.

TED: I'M SEEING 31% DROP FROM LAST OCTOBER TO THIS JANUARY.

THAT'S A LOT OF FOLKS.

>> IT IS A LOT OF FOLKS.

IT IS A LOT OF FOLKS.

AND SOME OF THEM DON'T REALIZE THEY NEED TO REAPPLY BECAUSE THEIR ELIGIBILITY CHANGED AND THEY NEED TO SHOW THE NEW ELIGIBILITY, AND THEN IF THEY DO, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE BACKLOG.

TED: RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND KIDS ARE CAUGHT IN THIS AS WELL?

>> YES, A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE ON S.N.A.P.

WITH CHILDREN.

TED: I'M SEEING S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS DOWN BY A THIRD, AND KIDS ARE MORE THAN 40% OF S.N.A.P.

BENEFIT RECIPIENTS?

>> YES, IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, YOU OBVIOUSLY QUALIFY UNDER DIFFERENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE FED.

TED: IT'S HIGHER IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

THE ELIGIBILITY RETIREMENT, YOU MENTIONED IT A COUPLE TIMES.

WHAT CHANGEED?

>> WORK REQUIREMENTS CHANGED AS WELL AS THE AGE WHERE YOU COULD GET AN EXEMPTION FROM THE WORK REQUIREMENTS.

SOME OF THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS CHANGED.

EVERYBODY'S SITUATION CHANGED DEPENDING ON HOW YOU INITIALLY QUALIFIED FOR S.N.A.P.

TED: IT EXPANDED REQUIREMENTS, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

TED: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT MEANS THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL THINGS YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING, SO YOU EITHER NEED TO BE VOLUNTEERING OR WORKING A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS AND THAT NUMBER OF HOURS HAS SHIFTED.

TED: WHAT ABOUT NONCITIZENS, THAT CHANGE AS WELL ELIGIBILITY?

>> THAT'S STILL THE SAME.

TED: THAT'S STILL THE SAME?

OKAY.

VERIFICATION FOR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED UP AS WELL.

>> YES, THAT'S ALL DONE THROUGH D.E.S.

THEY'RE RUNNING A BACKLOG.

IT'S HARD TO GET THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

LAST I SAW THEY WERE RUNNING THREE MONTHS BEHIND WITH ELIGIBILITY AND NEW APPLICATIONS.

TED: AGAIN, YOU TIGHTEN THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, TIGHTEN THE VERIFICATION PROCESS, YOU TIGHTEN EVERYTHING, BACKLOG RESULTS.

>> CORRECT, AND THEY LOST A LOT OF STAFF.

TED: WHY WERE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND THE VERIFICATION PROCESSES, WHY WERE THEY CHANGEED?

>> THEY'RE PART OF THE CHANGE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT COMES OUT OF THE NEW BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED OVER THE SUMMER.

SO THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND ARIZONA HAS BEEN ONE OF THE QUICKEST TO APPLY THEM.

TED: RIGHT, THIS AFFECTS YOUR ORGANIZATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS HOW?

>> WE RUN A LARGE FOOD PANTRY IN TEMPE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF TEMPE TO ACCESS OUR EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES.

FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS CAN COME TWICE A MONTH TO GET AN EMERGENCY FOOD BOX, SO WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE.

WE'VE SEEN A REALLY BIG INCREASE SINCE THE END OF LAST SUMMER.

THE FALL, WE HAD A HUGE INCREASE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AS WELL AS THE MICROBURST THAT HIT TEMPE, AND THEN THE S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS WERE DELAYED FOR NOVEMBER.

SO WE SAW THIS HUGE INFLUX OF PEOPLE.

WE'VE STAYED AT THAT HIGH LEVEL.

IT'S LEVELED OFF.

BUT WE'RE STILL SEEING WAY MORE PEOPLE THAN WE DID LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME.

TED: AND WE'RE TALKING OTHER AGENCIES AS WELL.

TALK COMMUNITY GARDENS.

MEALS ON WHEELS.

THESE SORTS OF THINGS?

>> WE ARE A MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDER.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE INCREASE IN MEALS ON WHEELS YET AS WELL AS WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT INCREASE IN EVEN OUR SENIOR LUNCH PROGRAM AT THE SENIOR CENTERS.

THAT'S A DIFFERENT POPULATION THAT PROBABLY DID NOT LOSE THEIR S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS.

SO THAT POPULATION IS A LITTLE BIT MORE STABLE.

IT'S THE YOUNG ADULTS.

IT'S THE PEOPLE WITHOUT CHILDREN, AND IT'S THAT 55 TO 65 AGE GROUP THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE INCREASES IN.

TED: INTERESTING.

WORK REQUIREMENTS COME INTO PLAY?

>> YES.

TED: HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THIS?

>> WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT.

PARTNERSHIP WITH FOOD BANK.

THE COMMUNITY RALLIED TO DONATE FOOD, DONATE MONETARILY, SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO TURN ANYBODY AWAY.

TED: CAN YOU KEEP DOING THAT, THOUGH?

>> WE CAN FOR THE MOMENT WITH THE CONTINUED COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

SO EVERY FOOD PANTRY LIKE US RELIES ON DONATIONS AND RELIES ON VOLUNTEERS.

WE ARE VERY SMALL STAFFED IN THE FOOD PANTRY AND RELY ON VOLUNTEERS TO BUILD BOXES, HAND OUT BOXES, HELP WITH THE PAPERWORK THAT IS BEHIND THE SCENES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THOSE ARE THE AREAS WHERE EVERY NONPROFIT THAT IS IN THE FOOD SPACE IS REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE FOOD SPACE?

>> EVERYBODY IS THE SAME.

WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS.

WE'LL TAKE DONATION, BUT EVERYBODY IS BUSY, EVERYBODY IS DOING MORE BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH OUR DOORS.

TED: WILL IT HELP IF THE BACKLOG EASES A LITTLE BIT?

DOES IT HELP OR DOES IT MEAN MORE FOLKS GOING INTO YOUR SERVICES?

>> IF THE BACKLOG CLEARS AND MORE PEOPLER S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE, YES, IT SHOULD LESSEN THAT DEMAND.

TED: YES.

>> BUT IT'S HARD TO TELL, ESPECIALLY GOING INTO SUMMER.

WHEN PEOPLE COME TO GET EMERGENCY FOOD BOX FROM US, THAT IS MONEY IN THEIR BUDGET THAT THEY CAN SPEND SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO RENT, UTILITIES, MEDICAL BILLS.

WHATEVER IT IS.

IF THEY COME AND SUPPLEMENT WHATEVER THEY'RE GETTING WITH THE EMERGENCY FOOD BOX, THEN THEY HAVE MORE IN THEIR FAMILY BUDGET.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION BEFORE YOU GO HERE, YOU HAVE NEW HEADQUARTERS BEING BUILT, CORRECT?

>> WE DO.

WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW BUILDING ON APACHE EAST OF THE 101 THAT WILL HOST LARGER FOOD PANTRY.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO EASILY SERVE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH OUR DOORS.

TED: GOT TO BE CLOSE TO A LIGHT RAIL STOP, I WOULD THINK?

>> YES, IT IS LITERALLY OUTSIDE OUR FRONT DOOR.

TED: THERE YOU GO.

CARRIE ARANDA FROM TEMPE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: MIKE OLBINSKI IS A LOCAL STORM CHASER WHO'S MADE A CAREER OF TRACKING AND CHRONICLING VOLATILE WEATHER, TORNADOES, RAIN BOMBS AND EVEN HABOOBS.

OLBINSKI IS FEATURED IN NEW EPISODE OF NOVA SET TO AIR ON APRIL 22nd ON ARIZONA PBS.

JOINING US IS STORM CHASER AND PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER MIKE OLBINSKI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: STORM CHASING SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FUN?

>> CAN BE FUN.

IT CAN BE SUPER FRUSTRATING BUT CAN BE FUN.

TED: DEFINE STORM CHASING.

>> IT'S KIND OF THE WORD, BUT IN REALITY, A LOT OF US SAY WE ARE CHASED BY THE STORM MOST OF THE TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S SUPERCELLS AND TORNADOES AND TENNIS BALL-SIZED HAIL AND THE HABOOBS COMING, I'M TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF THEM.

TED: WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN EVERYTHING IS NICE AND SUNNY AND WE'RE HEARING THAT A STORM COULD HAPPEN LATER IN THE DAY.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> I'M LOOKING AT MODELS, FORECASTS, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DISCUSSIONS, ESPECIALLY HERE IN ARIZONA, USING MY KNOWLEDGE OF 15 YEARS OF CHASING TO KIND OF KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TODAY BASED ON THE PAST AND GOING OUT THERE SOMETIMES AND SITTING THERE WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN.

TED: WHEN SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT STORM TO CHASE?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, AND IT COMES DOWN TO INSTINCT, AND I THINK IT'S MORE OF ESPECIALLY HERE, THE MONSOON IS A TOUGH THING TO CHASE.

>> I WOULD SAY SO.

DO YOU EVER -- DO YOU WATCH THE FORMATION OF THE STORMS OVER SOUTH MOUNTAIN OR SOMETHING COMING IN, IT'S LOOKING LIKE X AND HERE COMES Y?

>> YES, I WAS DOING THE BIG DUST STORM WE HAD LAST YEAR, AUGUST 25, I WAS NORTH OF TUCSON WATCHING THIS DOWNBURST HAPPEN AND I LOOK OFF TO THE WAFT AND SEE A FAINT WALL OF DUST EMERGING FROM THE DISTANCE, AND I'M LIKE THIS, BUT I GO THAT'S THE ONE, THE WALL OF DUST.

TED: YOU BASICALLY SAW THE HABOOB FORMING?

>> YEAH.

TED: NOT UNUSUAL FOR YOU?

>> NO, I USUALLY GO OUT TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO START, FROM THE PICACHO PEAK AREA, ELOY TO PICACHO PEAK IS WHERE THEY FORM.

TED: THAT'S WHERE THEY COME FROM?

>> WHEN THEY COME FROM TUCSON TO PHOENIX, YES.

TED: DO YOU EVER GET TOO CLOSE TO A STORM, DO THEY ALWAYS GO IN A SIMILAR DIRECTION?

>> NO, EVERYTHING OUT HERE IS VOLATILE.

DEPENDING WHERE THE HIGH PRESSURE SETS UP, THEY GO IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

>> WHAT ABOUT TORNADOES?

I THOUGHT TORNADOES GO IN A SIMILAR DIRECTION?

>> THEY USUALLY DO.

SOMETIMES THE STORMS IN THE PLAINS MOVE SOUTHEAST, EAST, NORTHEAST, TORNADOS CAN TEEFIATE.

THEY'RE A LITTLE FRIGHTENING.

>> I WOULD SAY THOSE STORMS ARE A LITTLE MEINER THAN OUR DUST STORMS AND MOST OF OUR DUST STORMS, WHICH IS EASIER TO TRACK, WHICH IS EASIER TO CHASE.

>> SUPERCELLS IN TORNADOES ARE EASIER TO CHASE.

ONE STORM GOES UP AND YOU CAN FOLLOW IT FOR COUPLE HUNDRED MILES.

>> ALL SUMMER, THE PLAINS, ALL SUMMER MAYBE?

>> RIGHT NOW, APRIL IT'S KICKING OFF IN THE PLAINS, I CHASE MAY AND JUNE AND COME HOME IN JULY AND CHASE HERE UNTIL OCTOBER.

TED: IT'S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A STORM CHASER.

WHAT HAPPENS?

>> PROBABLY LACK OF SLEEP.

A LOT OF ENERGY DRINKS IN THE MORNING, COFFEE, NOT THEY DRINK MUCH OF IT.

FORECASTING.

WE LOOK AT MODELS EVERY DAY, EVERY NIGHT BEFORE WE GO TO BED.

SOMETIME YOU ARE ABOUT TO GO TO BED AND YOU SEE RADAR AND SEE STORM POPPING UP OVER THE SUPERSTITIONS AND GET A SHOT OF A LIFETIME AND THAT'S THE LIFE.

TED: THOSE ARE LIGHTNING SHOTS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

TED: AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL CLOUDS, MAN, THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL SHOTS.

>> THE SUPERCELLS, THE STRUCTURE, THE MOTHERSHIP LOOKING FLYING SAUCER, I LIVE FOR THAT KIND OF THING.

I'M USUALLY TRYING TO FORECAST WHEN I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

TED: I HEAR YOU USE A PLURAL, ARE YOU OUT THERE WITH A TEAM?

ALONE?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> I SAY WE.

I DO TOURS, WORKSHOPS, COMING UP IN MAY I HAVE FOUR TOURS WHERE I TAKE TWO PEOPLE WITH ME IN MY 4-RUNNER, I HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHER FROM CHINA AND A BUNCH OF HIS CHINESE CLIENTS FOLLOWING IN THE VAN AND WE'LL BE CHASING AFTER TORNADOES FOR A WEEK.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE A HOOT.

>> IT'S AN UNKNOWN TOURISM OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE WHERE PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO CHASE OUR STORMS.

TED: CAN YOU MAKE A LIVING DOING THAT?

>> YEAH, DO I. DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, VERY, VERY HARD.

I DO MANY THINGS.

LIKE THE RAIN BOMBS.

NOVA EPISODE, THAT WAS A SEPARATE THING HELPING THEM GUIDE THEM, CONSULT, LICENSE FOOTAGE.

TED: THIS IS FROM NOVA.

RAIN BOMBS, WHAT ARE RAIN BOMBS?

>> I THINK IT'S MORE OF A FUN TERM FOR A MICROBURST, A DOWNBURST, AND ESPECIALLY THE TWO DAYS THEY TOOK THIS CREW OUT, WE GOT REALLY, REALLY LUCKY WITH GREAT STORMS AND GREAT DOWNBURSTS AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE STUDYING.

TED: WHERE WERE THESE LOCATED?

>> CLOSE TO KINGMAN ONE DAY AND THE SECOND DAY WE STARTED IN ELOY AND CASA GRANDE AND ENDED UP ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO YUMA AT SUNSET AND WE HAD MONSTER STORMS.

TED: I SHOULD SAY NOVA USED 8 MINUTES OF YOUR FOOTAGE THERE WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD.

SO YOU'VE GOT THAT AND YOU DO PHOTOGRAPHY, GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY.

THAT HELPS BRING THE MONEY IN TOO, RIGHT?

>> I SELL PRINTS, LOT OF LICENSING OF FOOTAGE.

MY STUFF HAS BEEN IN PLANET EARTH, AND HAIL MARY, THE MOVIE THAT'S OUT RIGHT NOW HAS A CLIP FROM THE GRAND CANYON.

I SAW IT, I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE WOULD KNOW.

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS.

COMMERCIALS, ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME AND HAVE A MASSIVE LIBRARY OF FOOTAGE.

TED: I NOTICE YOU CONSULT.

WHO WANTS TO BE CONSULTED ABOUT A STORM?

>> I MEAN, PEOPLE FROM THE BBC.

HOW COOL IS IT THAT WE HAVE THE MONSOON HERE AND WE FEEL KIND OF LIKE, DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS HERE?

AND THESE GUYS COME TO FILM OUR DOWNBURSTS IN THE ARIZONA DESERT, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A SHOW EVERYONE GETS TO SEE.

I THINK IT'S AWESOME TO PUT THAT ON THE MAP.

>> YOU ARE GEARING UP NOW FOR ANOTHER SEASON, TRUE?

>> YES.

TED: GETTING READY TO GO?

>> I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF OTHER STUFF LIKE MOVING AND OTHER STUFF, BUT AROUND MAY 1 IS WHEN I GO OUT.

THAT'S IN A COUPLE WEEKS AND I AM MISSING STUFF RIGHT NOW.

TORNADOES IN MINNESOTA YESTERDAY, AND PROBABLY MORE TODAY.

TED: LAST QUESTION, YOU KIND OF ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER THAT IT CAN BE NERVE-RACKING, ARE YOU EVER SCARED?

>> I'VE BEEN NERVOUS, SCARED A FEW TIMES USUALLY WHEN I'M NOT SEEING WHAT'S IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THERE'S RAIN, OR I'M TRYING TO CROSS OVER, BUT NOW I DROVE A COUPLE YEARS AGO I DROVE RIGHT UP A QUARTER MILE AWAY FROM A TORNADO AND STOOD WITH HAIL FALLING TO GET THE PERFECT PICTURE BEFORE THE TORNADO CROSSED THE ROAD.

PEOPLE WERE LIKE WERE YOU SCARED?

I'M LIKE, NO, I WAS FINE.

TEN YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE BEEN SCARED.

TED: DID YOU GET THE SHOT?

>> I DID.

TED: GOOD.

MIKE OLBINSKI, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

.

TED: THERE'S A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE CHANDLER MUSEUM THAT TAKES A LOOK AT HISTORY OF RADIO STATIONS AND PERSONALITIES IN PHOENIX.

IT'S RADIO THAT ROCKED THE VALLEY.

SARAH BIGGERSTAFF IS THE MUSEUM COORDINATOR AND ALSO WITH US IS FORMER ON-AIR PERSONALITY JIM WEST.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: RADIO THAT ROCKED THE VALLEY.

WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR ALL THIS?

>> IT WAS REALLY HOUSE OF BROADCASTING THAT JIM IS A PART OF.

THEY APPROACHED US TO DO AN EXHIBITION FEATURING AMAZING ARTIFACTS OF RADIO BROADCASTING HISTORY, AND SO IT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND THEY APPROACHED US COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

TED: SOME OF THE ARTIFACTS, OLD EQUIPMENTS, OLD SIGNS, THESE KIND OF THINGS?

>> GREAT AUDIO BOARDS, RADIOS FROM THE 40s, 50s, 60s, A REALLY COOL THING IS A LIGHT FROM THE TV TOWER ON SOUTH MOUNTAIN, THE BIG GLOWING LIGHTS, YOU GET TO SEE IT UPCLOSE AND IN PERSON.

TED: THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOREVER.

JIM, HOW DO YOU -- WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PHOENIX RADIO.

YOU GOT YOUR KNIX BUTTON, I CAN SEE IT FROM A MILE AWAY.

>> YOU BET.

TED: HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO CHOOSE, WHAT TO FOCUS ON, EMPHASIZE?

>> RADIO AROUND PHOENIX HAS BEEN HERE A LIFE SOMETIME, IT IS LICENSED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

PHOENIX GOT 35 OR 406 THEM.

OBVIOUSLY THE MUSIC AND THE PROGRAMMING DEPENDS ON THE TASTE OF THE AUDIENCE THAT YOU'RE APPEALING TO.

WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT STATIONS OVER THE YEARS.

TED: YEAH, AS FAR AS THE EXHIBIT IS CONCERNED, I WOULD IMAGINE IF YOU GO BACK KRIZ AND KRUX?

>> THEY ARE TOP 40 STATIONS IN THE 60S AND BATTLING IT OUT FOR RATINGS.

WE GOT A DISPLAY ON THE FIRST STATION, KOY, 1922 WAS KOIR AND WE HAVE KDKP AND KNIX, WHICH I REPRESENTED.

TED: SARAH, HOW DO YOU DECIDE HOW TO PRESENT THESE THINGS?

>> IT TAKES A CARE OF CURATOR'S EYE.

WE WORK WITH OUR TEAM WORKS TOGETHER REALLY WELL TO WHAT ARE THE BEST SIGHT LINES, THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHS THAT YOU GET FROM THIS, WHAT MAKES THE DISPLAY FULL AND WHOLE.

TED: YEAH, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE STATION, JIM, WE TALK ABOUT THE PERSONALITIES AS WELL, HUH?

>> YES, SIR.

A LOT OF GREAT PRESENTS, PAT McMAHON ON KTAR OVER THE YEARS, AND DID THE MORNING SHOW FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS AT KNIX AND A LOT OF GREAT PERSONALITIES IN RADIO.

TED: BILL COMPTON?

>> YEAH, KDKB.

TED: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BATTLES IN THE TOP 40, AND YOU GET INTO FM AND ALTERNATIVE STUFF, KDKB RULED THE MARKET.

>> IT DID.

TOP 40 ROCK STATION, AND KNOX WAS NUMBER ONE 15, 16 YEARS.

TED: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE PERSONALITIES?

THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE.

THE DAY IS FILLED WITH A PERSONALITY IN THE OLD DAYS, HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?

>> HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE EXHIBIT?

TED: YEAH, YEAH, TO EMPHASIZE.

>> SPOTLIGHT ON THE MOST POPULAR STATIONS IN TOWN.

LOT OF POPULAR STATIONS IN PHOENIX.

TOP SIX OR SEVEN RULED THE RATINGS.

TED: SARAH, WHEN IT COMES TO ARTIFACTS, YOU SHOW THE ARTIFACTS.

WHEN IT COMES TO A PERSONALITY, HOW DO YOU PROFILE?

>> WE HAVE GREAT MERCHANDISE.

THE DEEJAY IS GIVING OUT KEY CHAINS AND BUMPER STICKERS.

THE STATIONS WE HAD THE MOST MATERIAL FROM WE WERE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT BILL HEYWOOD, TIM AND MARK, BETH McDONALD, GREAT, FAMILIAR VOICES.

TED: THE MERCH RULES.

>> T-SHIRTS.

TED: I WOULD IMAGINE THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF MEMORIES FOR YOU.

>> A LOT OF GREAT MEMORIES.

COUNTRY RADIO WAS KING IN PHOENIX FOR MANY YEARS AND STILL IS, BUT THE WESTERN LIFESTYLE PRECLUDED THE FACT THAT COUNTRY MUSIC IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE POPULAR HERE.

BACK IN THE DAY, BUCK OWENS OWNED KNIX.

TED: INDEED, THAT WAS HIS BABY.

A LOT OF THE COUNTRY STARS CAME THROUGH PHOENIX BECAUSE OF KNIX?

>> THEY DID.

WAYLON JENNINGS, MARTY ROBBINS, LOT OF GREAT COUNTRY PEOPLE HAVE COME AND GONE THROUGH PHOENIX.

TED: TO PRESENT ALL OF THIS, IT HAS TO BE A JUGGLING ACT.

THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON, THAT WENT ON.

>> IT'S CHALLENGING, AND THERE'S A VARIETY OF MATERIAL.

SO IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK THEMATICALLY WHAT'S GOING TO LOOK WELL TOGETHER AND DISPLAYING THINGS BY RADIO STATION, BY DEEJAY PERSONALITIES AND EVOLUTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF RADIO MEDIA AND ENGINEERING.

TED: AND HOUSE OF BROADCASTING, OBVIOUSLY, WAS A BIG HELP HERE?

>> YES, THEY LENT ALL OF THE OBJECTS SO GRACIOUSLY.

EXPERTS ON THE MATERIAL.

WE WORKED WITH THEM TO TELL THE STORY AND TO DISPLAY THE ITEMS IN THE WAY THEY DESERVE.

TED: GIVE US A BETTER DEFINITION OF HOUSE OF BROADCASTING?

>> A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HOLDS ONTO THE MEMORIES OF RADIO AND TELEVISION IN PHOENIX, AND AS ALWAYS, HOLDING ONTO THE MEMORABILIA AND THE OLD EQUIPMENT FROM BACK IN THE DAY.

SO YEAH, IT REPRESENTS RADIO AND TV QUITE WELL HERE IN PHOENIX.

TED: WHEN YOU WANDER THROUGH THE EXHIBIT, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

>> OH, MY GOSH.

WE HAVE A SETUP YOU CAN HEAR THE RADIO JINGLES ON A BARCODE.

IT SOUNDS GREAT.

TED: JIM WEST, YOU HAD A GREAT CAREER, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING ALL OF THAT.

AND SARAH CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.

HOW LONG IT GOES AGAIN?

>> OPEN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 27.

PLENTY OF TIME TO SEE IT.

>> MY BIRTHDAY.

TED: THERE YOU GO.

AND IT IS INTERACTIVE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE?

>> YOU CAN SCAN THE QR CODES, THERE IS INTERACTIVE MATERIAL AND VIDEO BOOKS.

TED: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.