BEATRICE, NEB. - Jun. 12, 1949 - That's when a new wave of weather, sports, information, and music entered the fray in southeast Nebraska.

That’s when KWBE first went on the air.

“Pretty honored to be a part of it,” Station Manager Brad Achtemeier said. “Bud Pentz was an internal part as to how the station was set up for success… Doing some of the work he’s doing is pretty humbling.”

Brad Achtemeier serves as KWBE’s Station Manager, a position once held by the legendary Bud Pentz. Pentz grew KWBE into an epicenter of information for residents of counties like Gage, Johnson, Pawnee, Saline, Lancaster, and an area of northeast Kansas.

In 2024, the station remains going strong, getting set to celebrate its 75th Anniversary this summer.

Since the late 1980’s KWBE listeners have tuned in to hear Program Director Dave Niedfeldt on the KWBE morning show. He credits the community for KWBE’s success.

“The folks here in Beatrice, the surrounding areas, the listeners, sponsors… We couldn’t have done this without their support,” Niedfeldt said. “Like they say ‘it takes a village’ and we appreciate what they have done for us over the years to support us and keep us on the air.”

Anniversary week will be one of celebrating - On June 14, a celebration will take place at Charles Park in Beatrice with food trucks and live music, performed by AM/FM. 

“Looking forward to it big time,” Niedleflet said. “KWBE’s anniversary is June 12, we’ll celebrate on the 14th… It’s just a way for us to say thank you to the community, thank you to all of our sponsors, thank you to all of our listeners.”

Leading up to the celebration, KWBE has ran a 75 Days of Giving campaign, giving away prizes from local businesses to valued listeners.

Achtemeier says maintaining the common goal of serving the community with vital information has been crucial to KWBE’s success.

“Flood Communications mission is to serve the underserved and be a part of the communities that we are a part of.”