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11/24/2025
Last Chance Radio plans to launch over-the-air station
A local media association that helped bring public radio to the Helena area recently announced its plans to launch its own over-the-air radio station.
Members of the Last Chance Public Radio Association, a nonprofit established in 1984, believed that they couldn’t further expand on their core mission of providing public radio to the Helena Valley, so they now have their sights set on a new venture.
“We are developing this station, this low-power FM station here in Helena, in Helena College and hopefully we can get it up and going after the first of the year,” LCPRA Secretary and Treasurer Jerry Davis told Montana Free Press.
Historically, the radio association provided transmitting equipment that enabled the rebroadcasting of Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio to the Helena Valley, and later equipped KGLT, a Montana alternative public radio station based in Bozeman.
“Last Chance Public Radio kind of began as radio pirates because they just have this oral story of how there was a couple of dudes that hiked up Mount Helena and wanted public radio,” LCPRA President Jules Schoebel told MTFP. “So they just stabbed an antenna at the top of Mount Helena to give us public radio, and that’s how LCPRA was born.”
A low-powered FM station is a radio station with the capability of broadcasting content to a smaller service area. Davis said that Last Chance Radio will have a broadcasting proximity of about three miles, essentially covering the “community” of Helena.
While the new community station is meant to be complementary and not compete with the existing outlets, Davis said they are still determining what their station will be used for, although the primary focus will be on music, education and community purposes.
LCPRA raises money year-round through community fundraising events and its annual gala, and doesn’t receive federal funding, Davis said.
The money raised by the group is usually donated to Montana, Yellowstone and KGLT public radio stations.
However, the association is still working to reach its funding goals, with about $1,500 raised for each outlet so far this year, Davis said. He said there is an additional challenge of raising money to match inflationary changes.
Plus, the association is now factoring in its own costs for purchasing equipment while establishing its own station. Schoebel said the association’s partnerships with public radio stations have been beneficial, particularly in terms of equipment and knowledge sharing, as it works to get its station operational.
“It’s important to everybody. We always want everybody to understand how that’s important because we want to see KUFM and MTPR and KGLT, all of them thrive and flourish,” Schoebel said. “They are our allies and important to us, and they have been so helpful to us as well, too. It goes both ways.”
LCPRA has been able to purchase a soundboard, software and a computer. It also obtained its web streaming license in October and is currently broadcasting live from its designated website, lastchanceradio.org. However, the association is still working on obtaining its FCC license to broadcast on public airwaves, as well as purchasing the necessary technology to support the FM station.
Davis and Schoebel don’t know the exact timing of when the association will be issued its broadcasting permit, but they hope it will come soon after the new year.
The station operates with a volunteer staff, and the association is looking for DJs to help facilitate programming and has set up a calendar on its website. Those interested in volunteering can sign up and schedule times to work.
But experience is not a requirement, Schoebel said, who teaches media arts at Helena College.
“There’s also a continuing education for this, too, for our community as well,” Schoebel said. “Because I’m also a teacher, I want to give this to our students so as they grow and they learn to love public radio as well, especially in this crisis where this funding has been taken away, they understand why all of this is important.”
Zeke Lloyd contributed to this reporting.
Public Notice
The Montana Historical Society will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new $107 million Montana Heritage Center, 225 Roberts St., on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m. Gov. Greg Gianforte and major donors Dennis Washington and Norm Absjornson are scheduled to speak.
The museum renovations feature the 70,000-square-foot expansion of the Veteran and Pioneer Memorial building to the existing 95,000-square-foot structure. The museum will continue to feature some of its well-known works, including the Charles M. Russell Gallery and the white bison Big Medicine.
However, the increased space will also offer new immersive experiences, such as the Homeland Gallery, a walkthrough exhibit that showcases Montana’s history from early beginnings to the present, and the Sovereign Nations Arbor that acknowledges Montana’s tribal nations.
While initially planning for the renovation began in 2010, construction didn’t start until the fall of 2020, according to the Montana Historical Society. The restoration was primarily funded through grants and private donations, with no impact on local property tax dollars.
The museum will have regular public hours beginning Wednesday, Dec 3, with free admission.
The Montana Heritage Center’s regular hours are:
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The League of Women Voters of the Helena Area will hold a voter registration volunteer training on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, 225 N. Cruse Ave., at 11 a.m. Participants must register at [email protected].
The city commission will meet online Monday, Nov. 24, at 5 p.m. in a closed session to select finalists for the city manager position. The city conducted a round of interviews last week with nine semi-finalists and three alternate candidates. Current city manager Tim Burton announced in September his plans to retire by the end of this year.
5 Things to Know in Helena
The city of Helena responded to a lawsuit filed against it last month by a former city commissioner who alleged that the city had violated open meeting laws in its search for a new city manager. In a court document filed Nov. 12, the city claims that the “ad hoc” committee, made up of Mayor Wilmot Collins and Commissioner Sean Logan, did not violate state law because it is not a “governmental body” or agency subject to open meeting laws. The response also maintains that the complaint is void since the city revised its processes to include all members of the commission in further meetings regarding the recruitment and hiring proceedings. The city is asking the court to dismiss the complaint, side with the city and require the plaintiff to pay for its attorneys’ fees and other costs.
In a meeting last week, the city commission approved a new contract with Helena Recycling LLC to continue to provide recycling services in the city. Helena Recycling’s current contract with the city is set to expire in January. The new contract will include a monthly rate increase from about $16 to $22 for residents subscribing to its curbside services.
Also during last week’s city meeting, Mayor-elect Emily Dean officially announced her resignation from her position as a commissioner, effective Dec. 31, 2025. Dean will serve as the new mayor of Helena, beginning Jan. 1, 2025.
Carroll College announced last week an expansion of its online education programs, aimed at serving transfer students, adult learners and individuals seeking to change careers or complete their degrees through “flexible and career-aligned” courses, according to a press release. The courses will be offered in both hybrid and online formats, but the announcement provided by the college did not give details about the specific subjects and classes that will be included in the expansion.
The Holter Museum of Art’s annual holiday-themed Ho-Ho Holter Exhibition is open to the public, featuring three galleries with artwork by local and regional artists. The exhibition will be on display until Dec. 31, with free admission.
Fun for the Holidays
Helena’s fifth annual Turkey Trot fun run will be held on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, at 10 a.m. The race, put on by Helena Vigilante Runners, will start at Crossroads Sports & Fitness, 1013 Dearborn Ave. The entry fee is $10, and some proceeds will be donated to local charities, including Helena Food Share, Girls Thrive and Impact Montana. Interested individuals can visit the sign-up page here.
Helena’s Celebration of Lights will return on Black Friday, Nov. 28, at the downtown walking mall. Formerly known as the Parade of Lights, the event serves as a “reverse parade,” where stationary vehicles and booths decorated with holiday lights fill the walking mall, allowing residents to explore at their leisure. The celebration, put on by the Downtown Improvement District, will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Those interested in setting up a car or booth can visit the BID’s website for more information.
Carroll College will hold a holiday tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., on the corner of O’Connell Hall. The college will also provide cookies and hot chocolate at the Upper Campus Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event will also feature music from the campus chapel choir. Visit the college website for additional information.
