Couple seeks to expand radio holdings

LEWISTON, Idaho – A Lewiston couple could become the biggest radio holders in north-central Idaho and southeastern Washington under a pending deal to purchase Palouse Country radio.

Robert and Melva Prasil are buying the assets of Palouse Country Inc., including country stations KZZL-FM and KCLX-AM, classic rock station KRAO-FM and news and talk radio KMAX-AM. They already own KRPL-AM and KZFN-FM with a partner, Gary Cummings. He will be brought in to the new stations after the deal closes, they said.

Listeners can expect to hear the same types of music, the Prasils said, though they will try to give the stations a more local and newsy sound.

“We will make changes, but we’re not going to change the format,” Rob Prasil said.

All 10 employees of Palouse Country radio will remain, he said.

The couple, along with other extended family members, are partners in Ida-Vend Co. A subsidiary of that company, Ida-Vend Broadcasting, operates KRLC-AM, KMOK-FM and KVTY-FM.