WMNF radio cuts 3 positions

Three longtime employees of community radio station WMNF, 88.5 FM, including the popular music director known as Flee, Lee Courtney, have been laid off as a result of a budget crunch, according to station officials.

Also let go were the station's receptionist, Julie Scheid, and the part-time special events coordinator Linda "Linda Lu" Reisinger.

WMNF General Manager Jim Bennett said it is "painful" and "tragic" that the station has to make cuts.

"No one can see this as a good thing," he said. "We're losing three people who have a history with the station and are, in fact, irreplaceable."

He said their jobs will be handled by other employees. "This is in no way a reflection on their work," he said. "We were looking at positions that could be consolidated."

Bennett said the layoffs were necessary because the station, which depends solely on public donations, faces a projected $60,000 to $90,000 budget shortage.

"These are hard economic times for all media," he added. "And because we are like a small family, it's very difficult."

Donations are down and attendance has dropped this year at many of the station's fundraising concerts and events, such as Tropical Heat Wave.

Courtney said he was surprised, angry and disappointed to lose his part-time job as music director. He said he had been with the station for 15 years, five as a volunteer and 10 as a paid employee. He was arguably one of the station's highest profile personalities, appearing at numerous WMNF events.

"They said it was for economic reasons, but I probably brought in more money through fundraising than my 10-hour-a-week job cost them, so I wonder if that was the real reason," he said Thursday.

He said he will remain as an unpaid volunteer host of the "Sonic Detour" program from 4 to 6 p.m. Mondays.

Today's birthdays

Basketball Hall-of-Famer Willis Reed is 68. Singer Carly Simon is 65. Actor-comedian Jimmie Walker is 63. Actor-writer-director Ricky Gervais is 49. Rock singer George Michael is 47. Former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo is 44. Actress Angela Kinsey (TV: "The Office") is 39.

Source: The Associated Press