ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY JULIE ANDERSON
Changes are under way at the two local access channels serving Hillsboro and the surrounding area.
Eric Clark, Newton, helped launch Channel 45 in Hillsboro in 1998. The channel is owned by the City of Hillsboro.
Clark recently acquired management of Channel 22, which reaches a broader audience in Marion County.
Clark is hoping to hand off management of Channel 45 to Hillsboro High School in July.
?I found out doing one (channel) was tough,? Clark said.
The school would be responsible for all of the programming.
Gordon Mohn, superintendent, said the school would create a year-long class, similar to the Web design class currently being offered.
Students would offer school and community information on the channel. They also would be involved in setting up and preparing the station, allowing them to learn about business management.
Mohn said he did not think operating the station would require additional spending for the school. Expenses should be covered by money already allotted for technology.
After turning over management of Channel 45 to the school, Clark still will operate Channel 22.
For a year and a half, Clark had worked with Channel 22 under different ownership. He said when the channel became available, he decided to take on the challenge.
Clark works full time for KSN-Channel 3 and manages the Hillsboro station in his spare time.
He said it was his father, Dave Clark, who has kept the station running. Eric hopes to make some changes on Channel 22.
?We are trying to do something different,? Clark said.
Beginning in late April or early May, Clark plans to put several original programs on the channel.
Clark said he was trying to eliminate use of the stills which run continuously now.
New programming will include a weekly news show providing a recap of Marion County news, a real estate show featuring homes and a weekly 30-minute historical story, which Clark described as an extended ?Hatteberg?s People,? a popular people-profile segment on KAKE-Channel 10 for many years.
Clark also said he was talking with KSN and the production staff at Channel 3 about getting some of the shows the station ran in the past for Channel 22.
In addition, Channel 22 will cover football, basketball, softball, baseball and possibly volleyball games.
Clark will be try to find a Tabor College student to interview coaches for another show.
Another thing Clark plans to broadcast are county commission meetings and city council meetings in Hillsboro and Marion.
?We?re constantly looking for ways to fill time, but with good, quality programming,? Clark said.
He said anyone who has questions or ideas for programming can call him at 316-284-0144.
With control of two local access channels, Clark anticipates changes in programming
