.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Recently an article was printed in the Business Record about the new station that Mark Vos, Preston Daniels and Ron Sorenson are spearheading (“Nucleus of the Community,” June 4). Unfortunately, Mark Vos was quoted as saying “Local radio has been tossed into the trash; these companies aren’t interested in being a part of the community.”

Although Mr. Vos has a right to say whatever he wants, my problem is with reporter Jason Hancock putting this quote in the article and letting it stand alone without any balance. Interestingly enough, our radio stations donated equipment and our engineer, Joe Farrington, donated hours of his time to help get this station on the air.

As for community involvement, we have 50 employees who tirelessly work for local organizations on their own time, live and work, pay taxes and give unselfishly of themselves more than most people ever do, because of our love for what we do and our company encourages it. In addition, at Saga Communications, our station has a promotion staff of full-time employees who put in over 60 hours per week working on community events every month. This summer they’ll also spend countless hours training and coaching a team of nearly 30 interns.

In the past two years, Des Moines Radio Group has raised over $350,000 for the victims of the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. This last May, (on-air personalities) Ken and Colleen, along with the STAR 102.5 staff, did their ninth radiothon for the Children’s Miracle Network, raising over $1 million. The Des Moines Radio Group also organizes Combat Hunger for the Food Bank of Iowa. Over the last 17 years, we’ve collected over 2 million pounds of food for Iowans. Last winter, we also helped raise over $300,000 for Jolly Holiday Lights and Make-A-Wish Foundation. I know Citadel Broadcasting and Clear Channel Radio also give efforts to charities.

Jeff Delvaux, Altoona director of sales Saga Communications Inc.