WMHK (89.7 FM) is a non-commercial Christian radio station in Columbia, South Carolina. It is owned and operated by the Educational Media Foundation. Its programming is Contemporary Christian music programmed from K-LOVE studios in Rocklin, California. WMHK is one of South Carolina's most powerful stations. It provides at least grade B coverage to much of the South Carolina portions of the Charlotte and Augusta areas, and can be heard clearly as far east as Florence and as far west as Union. History Columbia International University signed WMHK on the air August 30, 1976 with a vision to share the Gospel through the airwaves. Until its sale to the Educational Media Foundation, it was unique in the sense that it was locally owned and operated, while most radio stations in Columbia are corporate owned. During its time as a locally owned station, WMHK enjoyed much higher ratings than most other CCM stations. Jim Marshall, former general manager of WMHK, was responsible for the revitalization of the station, changing the format from the older-style Christian music and adding a contemporary feel to the broadcasts. Under his direction, WMHK became one of the most popular CCM stations in the country, and was the first South Carolina station to win a Marconi Award. The morning show and the afternoon drive program became more sophisticated, featuring local weather personalities like WOLO Meteorologist Reg Taylor and live local traffic reports from WIS' Traffic Command center, as well as news updates from its own award-winning news department with Bob Holmes and Dwight Moffitt. Since then, staffing changes saw the departure of long-time morning host Rusty Rabon, who left for the ministry, along with the eventually closing of the news department. Marshall left in 2005 to become general manager of WAY-FM in West Palm Beach, FL. For many years, its "Family Friendly Morning Show" with Steve Sunshine and Amy Byrd was among the top rated in the Columbia market among women ages 25–54. Jerry Grimes, former Marketing Director at WIS, succeeded Marshall as General Manager in July 2005. Under his direction, there were a few staffing changes, including the promotion of Steve Sunshine to Program Director in August 2006 after long-time Program Director Tom Greene left the station to go to WMIT. Under Grimes, WMHK was also named "Station of the Year" by the Christian Music Broadcasters (CMB) in 2006 and 2007. After Jerry Grimes departed to join