Radio station aimed at north Omaha

Community activist William King Jr. hopes to give a voice to “the voiceless” when he launches a nonprofit radio station next month aimed at residents of north Omaha.

King, 45, said the station, which he named “The One,” should be broadcasting on 1690 AM by early August. Staffers were moving into the station's headquarters at 9910 N. 48th St. on Thursday.

“I want it to be a station that educates people and encourages them to become involved in the things going on in the community around them,” King said. “It should be the kind of station that gets people to speak out.”

Omaha businessman Dick Davis, who is helping to underwrite the station, said Omaha hasn't been home to “a black, urban-formatted station” for at least 15 years, so the time should be right for King's venture.

King, a Midland Lutheran College graduate in behavioral science, said the station will play mostly rhythm-and-blues standards from the 1960s and '70s. The music will be complemented by discussions such as the difference between snitching and reporting crimes.

“People who get caught in a crime and try to get out of it by telling on others are snitching,” King said. “People who see a crime and call police are reporting, and that's a good thing. We need to encourage people to speak up when they see something wrong.”

King turned to his mentor, Davis, for seed money. Davis' company helps minority contractors secure financing.

“I liked what William had to say, and I trust him,” Davis said. “The issue, basically, is character. I see William as a good and decent person that wants to do good by other people.”

King has a history of community work. Following his graduation from Midland, he worked seven years as probation officer for the State of Nebraska.

King, who starred in basketball and track at Midland, ran a college basketball recruiting camp that specialized in obtaining scholarships for minorities from 1996 until 2008.

Recently, he has organized community forums on several topics, including a two-hour, open-ended discussion with former State Sen. Ernie Chambers.

King also has hosted “Positive Havoc,” a weekly community discussion TV show on Cox Channel 22 for two years. In 2008, he produced a special program for Channel 22 that discussed what Nebraska Democrats should expect from their first foray into the caucus system for nominating a presidential candidate.

King knows when to act as well as talk. On June 20, he came to the aid of an 18-year-old woman who was being attacked by a stranger.

King was driving near 25th Street and Redick Avenue shortly after midnight when he saw two people struggling in the street. He said he turned on his high-beam headlights, sounded the car horn and called 911.

King then pulled the attacker off the woman, who had been knocked to the ground. He held the 54-year-old attacker until police arrived. The man later was charged with carrying a concealed handgun, attempted rape and strangulation.

“Coming to someone's aid is something we should all do naturally,” King said. “It's part of building a strong community.”

Contact the writer:

444-1272, kevin.cole@owh.com

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