What started with outrage and disgust over one bigoted comment by a wanna-be shock jock who is really nothing more than a minnow in the great lakes is turning out to be far more than simple bigotry. It’s starting to look like a festering cesspool of cronyism and good-ole-boy back scratching of the first order.
Earlier today:
Our previous coverage:
Three steps behind, and to the right (January 25, 2008)
Three steps behind, and to the right, part 2 – a microcosm of our universe (September 21, 2009)
“A Gentleman’s Agreement”? (October 15, 2009) (transcript of a portion of the live radio broadcast)
After hearing the audio of the mid October 2009 remarks made on KOKO radio by Greg Hassler we decided to do some research.
From 2006, then Central Missouri State University, now the University of Central Missouri:
…Greg Hassler is in his sixth season as the sideline reporter and pre and post-game host for Mules broadcasts. He is the Sports Director of flagship stations 1450 KOKO and 98.5 MIKE-FM….
The Associated Press ran a story on a controversial lawsuit and attorney Ronnie Podolefsky, the spouse of University of Central Missouri President Aaron Podolefsky, in January 2008, citing Greg Hassler’s criticism of Ronnie Podolefsky’s participation in the case.
From the Missouri Secretary of State:
Business Name History
Name Name Type
THE WARRENSBURG COUNTRY CLUB Legal Non-Profit Corporation – Domestic – InformationCharter Number: N00001166
Status: DissolvedEntity Creation Date: 5/22/1957
State of Business.: MO
Expiration Date: Perpetual
Last Annual Report Filed Date:
Last Annual Report Filed: 0
Registered AgentAgent Name: GREGORY H. HASSLER
Current Name: THE WARRENSBURG COUNTRY CLUB
Date Document
5/22/1957 Creation Filing
12/31/1999 With/Term/Dissolve
Again, from the Missouri Secretary of State, paperwork for a limited liability company was filed on May 22, 2000:
Business Name History
Name Name Type
D & H MEDIA, L.L.C.
LegalLimited Liability Company – Domestic – InformationCharter Number: LC0039125
Status: ActiveEntity Creation Date: 5/22/2000
State of Business.: MO
Expiration Date: 12/31/2050
Registered AgentAgent Name: VANCE DELOZIER
Organizers
Name: GREGORY HASSLER
Greg Hassler is listed as one of four initial members of the company. [pdf][link changed – click on the icon to view the document]
FMS
By BroadCasting & Cable Staff — Broadcasting & Cable, 7/9/2000 6:00:00 PM MT
Construction permit for new FM in Warsaw, Mo.Price: $47,500
Buyer: D & H Media LLC, Warrensburg, Mo. (Vance DeLozier, member/75%
owner; Greg Hassler, member/25% owner); no other broadcast interestsSeller: John B. Mahaffey, Springfield, Mo.; owns/has interest in four
AMs and 11 FMsFacilities: 98.5 MHz, 3 kW, ant. 261 ft.
Changing Hands
Compiled by Elizabeth A. Rathbun — Broadcasting & Cable, 9/2/2001 6:00:00 PM MTKOKO Warrensburg, Mo.
Price: $435,000
Buyer: D&H Media LLC, Warrensburg (Loree and Vance Delozier, each 37%
members); no other broadcast interests
Seller: Bick Broadcasting Co., Hannibal, Mo. (James E. Janes,
president); no other broadcast interests. Note: Bick acquired station
for $310,000 in 1999
Facilities: 1450 kHz, 1 kW
Format: AC, news/talk
On October 15, 2009 we requested the contract between the radio station and the university:
date: Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Subject: Missouri Sunshine Law Request for KOKO radio contract information…This is a request under RSMo 610 for the following information:
1. The multi-year contract between KOKO radio and the University of Central Missouri for coverage of intercollegiate athletics activities signed in 2005 (or possibly 2004).
2. Any and all addenda for said contract.
3. Any and all communications between KOKO radio and the university concerning compliance with that contract.
We received the following reply:
date: Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Subject: Re: Missouri Sunshine Law Request for KOKO radio contract information…Pursuant to your request, I am attaching a copy of the contract between UCM and D&H Media, LLC. There is no addenda to the contract, nor am I aware of any other communications concerning the
contract…
May 2005 contract for broadcasting intercollegiate sports events between the University of Central Missouri (then Central Missouri State University) and D&H Media (KOKO Radio) [pdf]
Given the rumors we heard about the radio contract, we thought it might be a good idea to confirm or debunk them as warranted. So, in 2005, a few weeks before Aaron Podolefsky became president KOKO and the UCM athletic director signed a contract with a ten year term granting exclusive rights to broadcast UCM sporting events. The contract terms appear favorable to KOKO. You can read ’em yourself.
We’ve made Sunshine Law requests asking who authorized the athletic director to sign the muti-year contract.
Sent: Fri, October 16, 2009 4:12:14 PM
Subject: Information RequestThis is a request under RSMo 610 for any record of an authorization by the previous President of the University delegating authority to sign a multi-year contract to the Director of the Athletic Department.
Thank You…
The University’s response:
Sent: Tue, October 20, 2009 11:00:40 AM
Subject: Re: Information Request…In response to your request of October 16, 2009, our files do not reveal any written authorization by the former university president.
Sincerely…
And we asked another question:
date Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 1:46 PM
subject Re: Information RequestHow about the Board of Governors? Did they authorize a multi-year contract with the radio station?
Thank you for your assistance in filling this request under RSM0 610.
Thank You…
We know that the previous president did not authorize it – now we are waiting for our request on whether the BoG authorized the contract. What we know for certain is that, per University bylaws, the Athletic Director does not have the authority to make such a contract without someone higher up the food chain authorizing him to do so. We will ask what the policy was in 2005, but currently, only the Board of Governors can authorize a multi-year contract.
After reading the contract, we followed up with a request on October 19, 2009:
date: Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 7:20 AM
subject: Re: Missouri Sunshine Law Request for KOKO radio contract informationThank you for your response.
In reading the contract I note:
1) Under Paragraph 13 it is stated that the parties to the contract are required to meet annually to “review and reconcile the gross advertising sales information.” Is it the assertion of the University, as indicated by the response to my original request, that no further communications have taken place concerning compliance with Paragraph 13?
If the meetings(s) took place, this is a request for communication(s) concerning the scheduling, agenda, and actions of any meetings concerning compliance with paragraph 13 of the contract.
2) Under Paragraph 12 KOKO is required to make quarterly payments to the University. This is a request for the dates and amounts of those payments since the inception of the contract.
Thank you…
We received the following a few hours later:
date: Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Subject: Re: Missouri Sunshine Law Request for KOKO radio contract information…I am currently looking into your specific requests as outlined below and will be back in touch with you.
Sincerely…
Yesterday we received the following in response to our request:
date: Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Subject: Re: Missouri Sunshine Law Request for KOKO radio contract information…In accordance with Section 610.024 1.(1) “. . . Research time required for fulfilling records requests may be charged at the actual cost of research time. Based on the scope of the request, the public governmental body shall produce the copies using employees of the body that result in the lowest amount of charges for search, research, and duplication time. Prior to producing copies of the requested records, the person requesting the records may request the public governmental body to provide an estimate of the cost to the person requesting the records.
. .”The cost of compiling a report that responds to your request is $87.75. The report will be made available to you once payment is remitted.
Sincerely…
Question. When we asked for the information on October 15th we were told on October 16th that the information didn’t exist. After reading the contract, we asked again on October 19th and were told
on todayyesterday that the information did exist. We guess we could say we’re making progress.We’ll ante up and get the information. And we’ll post it here. All for transparency in the public interest.
We received the following in response to our Sunshine Law request about any Board of Governors authorization to sign the contract:
Sent: Tue, October 20, 2009 3:14:24 PM
Subject: Re: Information Request…Please submit your request relevant to the Missouri Sunshine Law. Thank you….
>>>XXXXXXX 10/20/2009 1:46 PM >>> [original request as appended in this response e-mail]
How about the Board of Governors? Did they authorize a multi-year contract with the radio station?
Thank you for your assistance in filling this request under RSM0 610.
Thank You…
[emphasis in original request added]
Well, that’s interesting, don’t you think? We asked for the information and we cited RSMo 610. Do you think the authorization came after the fact? Is there anything in writing? We’ll ask that way, too.
If it wasn’t written down, it doesn’t exist.
…in the radio contract.
Paragraph 6:
Paragraph 7:
That’s pretty close quarters. I wonder if they’ve had the opportunity to travel since the Christmas tree radio broadcast. That would make for interesting dinner conversation.