50th KAHI celebration with Jimmy Jay Boston Rewind Show. Photo by Mary Jane Popp



And that’s a fact! KAHI Radio has a long and special history in Auburn. KAHI was born in 1957 when radio was in its heyday... I joined the team in 2007 when we celebrated KAHI’s 50th anniversary. It was so fun. Syndicated radio host Jimmy Jay flew in from Boston to be with us. He still hosts the “Rewind” Radio Show on Saturday on FM-104.5 and AM-950 KAHI. 

We had a blast from the past for some three hours on air. Jimmy pulled out his little black book and began calling those rock and roll oldies but goodies like Chubby Checker, and we got to chat with them. We had a wonderful time. They didn’t even know we were calling, but they shared their time to make the party sparkle. Our listeners stopped by to wish us well with cake and conversation. It was a wonderful beginning for me to be a part of the KAHI family...

KAHI was involved in so many events like Auburn Sings, a contest of local talent broadcast live from the Auburn State Theatre with a live audience. Dave Rosenthal and I co-hosted it. Dave and I co-hosted the National Amgen Bicycle Race which started in downtown Auburn. That was a live broadcast on location. KAHI was always there to do news and talk and keep the community in the know from fun happenings to keeping the community informed with weather, traffic, sports and major disasters too.

Now we are taking a leap into a new era for AM-950 KAHI and also FM- 104.5. Ken Segura Knoll and I have stepped up to make sure both stations remain an integral part of the community. We hope to take this little engine that could and transform it into a roaring locomotive rolling out a new multi-media era. Yes, we will keep that community feel that made KAHI special, but with new additions like the Kahi Gold Country Channel with video for so many local events like the Fourth of July Parade and festivities which Reyn Knoll and I co-hosted, celebrating the 250th birthday of our nation. 

And no worries, you wanted high school football? Well, it’s back with video and audio starting every Friday night with the Coaches Corner at new locations every week and hosted by Tom O’Malley. Then watch the play by play and experience the great half-time entertainment with the Placer High Marching Band. GO HILLMEN!!! Just go to our website at www.kahi.com and click on the live broadcast. You can also see it on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. 

Want to see it all again? Tune in to ACTV, Auburn Community TV, for the replay of the whole game on Saturday. We are working with Philip Jacques to bring you even more video on our Kahi Gold Country Channel like the new TV show I’m doing called What’s Popping with Mary Jane Popp. Got some great guests I want you to meet. And of course, I will still be doing my POPPTALK Radio Show too on FM-104.5 & AM-950 KAHI. And there’s more to come with podcasts and more on location broadcasts... We are also hoping to bring you an exclusive Speaker Series next year. How about Ballroom Dancing? We’ll keep you posted. All for your entertainment pleasure.

I have been doing a POPPTALK column for Paul Scholl at Messenger Publication for a very long time and will continue that column in the Placer Sentinel premiering in Auburn as we speak. Next year we will celebrate our 70 years with you, streaming programming to enhance our connection with Northern California’s Foothills and Gold Country. 

A new Gold Rush is here—A media delivery gold rush. There will be many more surprises to come, and we want to invite you to give us your feedback so we can work together to make FM-104.5 and AM-950 KAHI, along with our Kahi Gold Country Channel, an integral part of Auburn and surrounding communities. Our motto is LISTEN…WATCH…READ…PARTICIPATE. All this and more to come on The Golden Voice of the Foothills!