When my family and I moved to the Ozark Mountains of Missouri 29 years ago, we lived without a phone, running water or electricity. There were no personal computers and the internet was just being invented. We loved the pristine rivers and springs, the clean air and the ability to raise an organic garden in a relatively clean environment. As "foreigners", we didn't really expect to meld perfectly with hill country culture or history. It was different from where my wife and I grew up. We did make friends, though, and involved ourselves with other gardeners and people who cared about the things we cared about. Our roots are now set and we both now have lived here longer than any other place.

Fast forward: Today my better half is directing a tour of local people to the Ozark Underground Laboratory in Protem, Missouri. OUL is owned and operated by Dr. Tom Aley, a well-known hydrologist who has made it his life's work to educate people about the karst (sinkholes, losing streams and caves) of the Ozarks. She is the Water Sentinel Director in Missouri for Sierra Club and we are very active in protecting and educating our neighbors and the public in general on clean water issues.

It is Earth Day and as I dropped Angel off to meet her ride to OUL, I, by chance, picked 88.1 FM on the radio dial. I heard the voice of Pacifica's Amy Goodman. Her program (usually from New York and today from Missoula, Montana) is featured on KZGM, 88.1 FM, Cabool, Missouri! It is the pre-eminent alternative news program in the United States. We do get it off our satellite tv but now Amy is available right here every day on our new listener-sponsored community radio KZ88. You can also hear local news and events and live, locally produced music at this neophyte radio gem. It is another connection to the world just like this website, the internet and cellphones. (I told my six year old grandson, Liam, about how with cellphones, everyone is their own phone booth and can talk to anyone from anywhere. He replied, "Grandpa, what is a phone booth?")

Now the Ozarks and the Kruzens are connected to the world with cellphones, computers, the internet and a unique item called community radio. KZ88 has the ability to unite us in our hill culture, music, lore and common interests, but it also unites us to the greater world out there, through a non-corporate media outlet. No ads for big insurance companies or drug companies or poor bankers needing a bail out. No endless bibble, brought to you by someone who only wants your money.

Listener-sponsored community radio, KZ88, is brought to you by you and for you to inform, educate and entertain in unique ways. Please stop by the 88.1 FM spot on the dial when you are in South-Central, Missouri. Please take a minute to look at their website: http://kz88.org/index.html.

If you like what you hear, you can contribute music, ideas and even money. It's our radio station for us and by us!

-from the Ozark Hills, where people still play live music to entertain themselves, go to the river to cool off on a hot day or walk in the woods to see spring wildflowers and songbirds fresh from Central and South America,
-Tom Kruzen