Bill and Pat Wilde of Wisconsin Dells "absolutely love WPR," Pat said, so they made the donation to support building a new Wisconsin Public Radio station to serve central Wisconsin. She said that since she and her husband arrived in the Dells 14 years ago, they have been fans of Wisconsin Public Radio with its classical music, unbiased reports, political discussions, pharmacy program and information on a variety of subjects.

The radio station, WHAA 89.1 FM, which will broadcast WPR’s Ideas Network, featuring issues-based call-in talk and information programming, will be located in the Town of Coloma, but it’s address will be Adams.

WHA Regional Programming Director Rick Reyer said, "Since Wisconsin Public Radio began the Ideas Network in 1990, central Wisconsin has been without a full-time radio signal for this network. It has been my goal to make this happen." The signals receive from current stations carrying the Ideas Network go low powered from sundown to dawn, and Reyer said area residents have been asking for a 24/7 ideas network station.

Pat Wilde said the more people who receive the public radio station, the better it will be.

The new station, expected to be on the air by Jan. 1, will reach in and around Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Dells, and Portage, Reyer said

WPR has also received $55,000 for the new station from the Mead Witter Foundation of Wisconsin Rapids.

The first $30,000 of the grant has been allocated outright to support the new station WHAA 89.1 FM. The remaining $25,000 is a matching grant, in an effort to inspire community support from listeners in the area, according to Cynthia Henke, president of the Mead Witter Foundation.

"The Mead Witter Foundation, Inc., will contribute dollar-for-dollar matching funds, up to a maximum of $25,000 for contributions from businesses, organizations and individuals made through Dec. 31, 2009," said Henke. "The Foundation is a long time supporter of WPR, and this matching grant is a wonderful opportunity for our organization to join others in the community in support of this project to expand and enhance WPR’s coverage in this area."

The Wildes also encourage their neighbors in the Dells area to give to the campaign.

Contributions to the project and the Mead Witter match can be sent to WPR’s Central Wisconsin office at 518 S. 7th Ave., Wausau, WI 54401. Those wishing to contribute online may go to www.wpr.org and click on the Support WHAA link. Details about the station and contributing to it are available by calling

The total cost of project is $431,088, and WPR has already received $323,316 through federal Public Telecommunications Facilities Program, and the remaining $107,772 funds needed to be raised from the community, a goal Reyer sees no problem in meeting.