WJER Radio

06/06/2026

Great times at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center’s Patio Party tonight! The music was awesome, the food was delicious, and the weather was absolutely perfect! We are so proud to be a community partner of this incredible organization!

06/06/2026

🟢FINAL UPDATE (9:10 PM): I-77 northbound is OPEN.

I-77 northbound is CLOSED north of Kimbolton due to a truck that lost a load of glass. ODOT is is heading to the location to clean up the roadway. Traffic is being diverted via the Kimbolton Exit (Exit 54) for SR 541. Traffic can detour SR 541 west to SR 93 north, SR 93 north to U.S. 36 east. SR 93 east back to I-77. Estimated time is unknown. Check OHGO.com for the latest info.

06/05/2026

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy participates in a public Q&A and community discussion following a tour of Buckeye Career Center and a workforce development and career readiness roundtable on Friday, June 5, 2026.

06/05/2026

On U.S. 250 from I-77 to the Schoenbrunn Exit in New Philadelphia, watch for lane changes and expect narrowing on/off ramps. See below for details (this schedule is weather permitting):

On Saturday, June 6, the contractor will be working on the westbound on/off ramps at the Mall Exit. The ramps will remain open but will be narrow.

Week of June 8: Expect changes to lane closures as paving work continues. Towards the end of the week, expect additional ramp impacts.

Week of June 15: Ramp work continues, expect narrow ramps and possible delays for paving on the U.S. 250 eastbound overpass bridge at I-77.

06/05/2026

The WJER-WTUZ Prize Patrol is on the loose! Today we set out in search of a lemonade stand and found these entrepreneurs in New Philadelphia. We surprised the kids with tickets for the Akron RubberDucks, passes for Sluggers and Putters, and a Hot ‘n Ready Meal Deal from Little Caesars! You never know when the Prize Patrol will show up! You could be next! Tune in to WJER and WTUZ all summer long to find out when we’re heading out with prizes!

WJER-WTUZ’s Carrie Williams, Amy Smith, Mandy Garver & Lauren Rectanus are pictured with the “Lemon Ladies!” 🍋

06/05/2026

CONTEST IS OVER. TREVOR DOUGLAS IS OUR WINNER. THANKS FOR PLAYING. NEXT WEEK'S CONTEST WILL BE ON 99.9FM WTUZ - Z Country'S FACEBOOK.

🍔🎉 WENDY’S FREEBIE FRIDAY! 🎉🍟

We’re giving away a FREE Medium Combo Meal from your local Wendy’s restaurants to one lucky winner today!

👉 To enter, just answer this:
Beach day or backyard day?

⏰ You have until NOON today to enter!
We’ll randomly pick a winner and contact them by 3 PM.
Good luck! 😄

👉 Valid at participating local Wendy’s locations.
👉 Winner must be local and able to pick up prize in person at the station.
No purchase necessary. This promotion is not affiliated with Facebook.

06/04/2026

The Strasburg Tigers take on the South Webster Jeeps in the Divisio...

06/04/2026

Couldn't have said it better ourselves! Small market radio is different. And it's better! Thank you for tuning in to WJER for more than 76 years!

Why Small-Market Radio Is Better

That statement will irritate some corporate radio executives.

Good.

Because deep down, many people inside the industry already know it’s true.
Small-market radio still delivers something many larger operators have lost:
Human connection.
Not polish.
Not scale.
Not centralized efficiency.
Connection.

Across America, small-market stations continue operating the way radio originally became powerful in the first place — by embedding themselves into the daily life of a community.
Listeners see the people behind the microphone.
The air talent broadcasts live from local events.
The sales staff sponsors fundraisers.
The program director attends high school football games.
Sometimes even the GM is downtown shaking hands with local business owners.

That may sound old-fashioned in today’s digital media environment.
But listeners love it.
Why?
Because people trust familiarity.
Small-market listeners often describe their stations emotionally:
“They care about this town.”
“They’re part of the community.”
“They’re always there when something happens.”

That’s not marketing language.
That’s relationship language.
And relationships are what much of modern media has lost.
Ironically, radio spent decades trying to sound bigger, slicker, and more centralized. In many cases, stations became operationally stronger while becoming emotionally weaker.
Listeners noticed.

Large corporate operators often promote “community involvement,” but audiences can immediately tell the difference between authentic presence and scheduled appearances managed from a corporate calendar.
You cannot automate belonging.
That’s the hidden advantage small-market radio still possesses.
When storms hit, schools close, or tragedy strikes, listeners still turn to local radio because they believe the station genuinely cares about the community outcome — not just the ratings outcome.
And that trust matters.
Especially now.

Streaming platforms may dominate convenience, but they cannot replicate emotional geography. Spotify doesn’t know your mayor. Algorithms don’t sponsor your local fundraiser. Podcasts don’t sit at the diner talking to listeners over coffee.
Small-market radio still does.

Of course, corporate radio has its own realities:
large staffs
layers of management
centralized programming
syndication
voice tracking
shareholder pressure.
But those same structures often create emotional distance between stations and the people listening.
And emotional distance is dangerous in a media environment filled with endless alternatives.

The larger radio became, the less human it sometimes sounded.
That’s why small-market radio still matters.
Not because it’s technologically superior.
Not because it generates massive revenue.
Not because it’s perfect.

Because in many towns across America, it still remembers what radio is supposed to feel like.

Dave Van D**e
[email protected]

06/03/2026

The Bolivar Main Street Association brings back the sweet taste of summer at the Bolivar Strawberry Festival... June 4th, 5th, and 6th in Downtown Bolivar. Enjoy fresh Ohio-grown strawberries, delicious treats, rides, crafts, and live entertainment. Plus, a 5K race and the Strawberry Festival parade! Bring the family and make sweet summer memories... this weekend at the Bolivar Strawberry Festival! 🍓😋

06/03/2026

Today is the day!! The Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market's first Market of the season. The Market runs from 3 to 7pm, every Wednesday.

WJER will be once again broadcasting live from the Market from 3 to 5pm. Tune in to hear what's new, who's back, and what's currently in season locally.

Opening Day 2026 is this WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3. See you at 3 at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds in Dover!