By By Arthur McLean
A familiar sports name will soon be broadcasting in the Atmore area.
Lou Vickery, Atmore native, former professional baseball player, author and businessman, has come back home to be the new general manager of Atmore's only FM radio station.
WYDH, 105.9 FM was purchased by Great American Radio Network Management Company, and will soon go by the new call letters of WNSI, standing for news, sports and information.
Vickery will be at the helm of the new station as general manager and one of its on-air personalities.
"I'm excited to be home," Vickery said.
The station's broadcast a mix of sports and news, heavy on the sports, with a focus on the prep sports scene in south Alabama, Vickery said. Vickery will host his own show, "Let's Talk Sports: Prep Style," a similar program to one Vickery has hosted in Bay Minette for the past year.
"Our slogan is sports radio done right," Vickery said. "I think there's a real opportunity here to provide people with a good sports and news oriented radio station."
In addition to his own show, WNSI will broadcast Sonny Smith and Wimp Sanderson's basketball program, SEC Riviera Roundup, feeds from the Sporting News Network and CBS Radio Network.
There will be local content as well, including Escambia Academy football games, Keith Castleberry's blues music show on Friday nights, and the local swap shop show.
In addition to new programming, the station will soon have a new home. The station is moving to 805 N. Main St. in Atmore, and will have new equipment installed in its new studios, Vickery said. All the upgrades should be in place for the station to begin broadcasting in its new format by Nov. 15.
Vickery, a baseball phenom at Atmore High School, signed a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals upon his graduation. He played five years with the Cardinals and another four years with the New York Yankees.
He has also been in business as a sales trainer for automotive dealerships and he's written a number of books, including The Winner's Edge with former Auburn basketball coach Smith.
"I want to serve this community," Vickery said. "If we show Atmore we care about them, then maybe they will care for us."
In addition to being busy setting up a reformed radio station, Vickery has also been spending time in Opelika. His sister, Atmore teacher Priscilla Wilder, was injured in an automotive accident after a recent Auburn football game, the family car rolled back and rolled over her torso.
"She's making remarkable progress," Vickery said. "The outpouring of love from this community for her has just been remarkable."
Vickery said Wilder's condition is improving daily and the family hopes she will be able to return to Atmore soon. Wilder is still at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika.