I started my career in television in 1991 in Bloomington, IL at WYZZ-TV Fox43 as a receptionist, then assistant business manager. Within one year I was promoted to business manager.

In 1996, I moved closer to my parents, who were residing in the Effingham area. In 1998 I met my current husband, who was living in Salem. 

In 1999 I was able to continue my career as a business manager with WJBD.

I am proud to be a part of WJBD and the Salem community, and I look forward to the many years to come!

Hello readers of WJBDradio.com.  As the title suggests, my name is Garrett Ford.  I'm a 2008 graduate of Centralia High School and 2009 graduate of Kaskaskia College.  Now I spend most of my time at SIUC studying Radio-Television and Political Science.  When I'm not slaving away at the textbooks, I still hang around WJBD anchoring the Sunday morning and noon newscasts a few times a month.  Every now and then I (metaphorically, now) spin the records, too.  Despite being 20 years old, I sport a long white beard and have a seemingly 19th-century look, as you can see in my fine portrait.  You just can't go wrong with the classics when it comes to appearance.

While you're here on WJBD Online, I would suggest checking out our Business Directory.  You may be wondering why I would suggest such a thing.  Well, my only claim to fame on this website is that I hand-entered all but a few of the 1,839 of the businesses in our directory, so if you visit it, I'll feel like my work was worthwhile.

Also, my e-mail address is listed above.  Don't hesitate to drop me a line.

Favorite WJBD artists:  Billy Joel, Sir Elton John, Queen, Fleetwood Mac
Favorite non-WJBD group:  Neil Diamond, Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel
Favorite TV Show:  Seinfeld

Future Career Goal:  Political reporter

I'm a 1997 graduate of South Central High School where I had the opportunity to play for 3 outstanding coaches during my time playing baseball and basketball.  I then went to Lakeland College for a year before transferring to Concordia University where I majored in Communication and played soccer and baseball.  Then I graduated from the Broadcast Center and got my first job in Festus Missouri.  After spending a great year there I made my way back to southern Illinois and WJBD.  We continue to expand our area sports coverage and our website has opened up a ton of opportunites for different things such as web streaming games or online photo galleries.  Listen for me every morning Monday thru Saturday on 1350 AM WJBD or during the Saturday Sports Showcase with Bill Hawley and Sam Snodsmith from 9-10 a.m.  If not then, you'll probably find me at an area game of some sort or sitting on my couch with my wife and 3 sons rooting for the Cubs.  If you have any questions, stats, scores, ideas or comments email me.  No email ever goes unread!

Favorite WJBD Artist:  Brad Paisley, Neil Diamond, Sammy and the Alabamy Boys

Favorite non-WJBD Artist:  Silverchair, Three Days Grace, Marvin Gaye

Favorite Food:  Pizza

Movie's I recommend:  Green Street Houligans, Frailty, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Primal Fear, Bad News Bears, Usual Suspects.

Favorite TV Show:  The Office, House, Ultimate Fighter, Deadliest Catch, Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen

Bill has been the "Voice of the Wildcats" for over 20 years.  He's a local legend with his unique call of a game that has been captivating Salem fans for years.  The voice of Salem Wildcats Football and Boys Basketball, Bill is also the president of the Kaskaskia College Board of Trustee's and works at Wilson and Wilson Monument in Odin. 

Hello Everyone! My name is Matthew Horst and I am from Centralia, IL . I am a 2005 Graduate of Centralia High School and a 2010 Graduate of Kaskaskia College. I am in a local band called Cosmic Coastline. You may recognize me from my work in several theatre productions at the college. I have been in radio since 2005 where I first started as a DJ and News Anchor for WRXX and WILY. Then in September of 2007 I was hired here at WJBD. I hope to one day work in Columbus, Ohio for a Christian Rock radio station there. I am a devout Christian Person. If you have any questions for me feel free to contact me by e-mail ,which can be seen above. God Bless You!

 Silly facts about Me:

Perfect Meal: Chinese Food!! Pizza, Salad, Steak and Pretty Much Anything my Mom Fixes.

Favorite Movies: Superhero Movies! Dumb and Dumber, Back To The Future, Etc...

Favorite TV Shows: Seinfeld...Saved By The Bell...King of Queens...WWE Raw

Favorite WJBD Artists: Daughtry, Owl City, and Journey

Favorite Non-WJBD Artists: I like that hard rock stuff :) Underoath, Confide, Mayday Parade, A Day To Remember, Etc...

Hobby: Singing in my band Cosmic Coastline. Attending concerts. Photography.

Favorite Sports: Football, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey and Wrestling! (Yes Wrestling is a Sport!)

Favorite Sports Teams: Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Cardinals/Minesota Twins, St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Lakers.

Favorite Books: The Bible, The Last Lecture, Everybody Hurts

Heroes: Jesus, Mom and Dad, Grandparents and Family

Favorite Season: Fall, Summer and Spring! Winter stinks!

I first joined WJBD radio in 1979 as News Director at the age of 23.  As I was growing up, I never was interested in doing anything except being in journalism and radio.  I pestered the editor of a weekly newspaper in suburban St. Louis where I grew up to hire me when I was a freshman in high school.  I wrote sports stories all through high school.  I finally got the opportunity to move to radio when I talked the owner of a St. Louis area Top 40 station to let me work the Sunday morning shift no one else wanted.  I eventually started doing the Sunday morning Public Affairs show and when the news director was in a serious wreck I talked my way into that job and managed to do it while still going to college.

After stops in Bloomington and Centralia, IL I was introduced to the original owner of WJBD radio Bryan Davidson and eventually came to WJBD as News Director.  I had no plans at the time to stay in Salem long-term and was talked into leaving by a Chicago radio executive who had bought his own station in Rockford.  It was there I quickly learned I liked the small town atmosphere much better and the role radio played in smaller communities.  About a year later, I returned to WJBD and have been here ever since.   Overtime, I broadened my skills to include sales, promotions, and engineering.  I became assistant General Manager in 1985 and General Manager in 1991.

I'm proud of the role WJBD plays in Marion County and am pleased with the opportunities I've been given to first split the programming of WJBD AM and FM and then to begin WJBDradio.com that has become the premiere website for local news, sports, photos and weather information.  I've also been privileged to work with a very talented staff over the years that have made WJBD what it is today.  I'm especially proud of being able to help so many young people get their start in radio and grow to enjoy the profession as much as I do.

34 years after first getting in front of a microphone for the first time, I still enjoy my daily routine that begins with gathering the morning news at four each morning.  After all, how many people have the opportunity to have a job that is different every day and can chronicle history as it happens.   I would never want to give up my involvement in all the activities in the area over the years.  It's amazing what can be done when everyone puts their talents together to better the entire community.  There's also special pleasure in working hand in hand with businesses to help them grow through the effective use of WJBD radio.

If you have any news item to share, have a comment or suggestion about our programming, or have an interest in getting into the radio field, feel free to send me an e-mail at the above address.  I'd love to hear from you!!!

Full Name:  Carla Renae Linder

How long have you worked at WJBD?  11 years and counting!

How long have you lived in the area?  23 years

Do you have a family?  I have 2 kids that are now adults who have outgrown my little home nest, I live in a 3-bedroom home with plants and no pets.

Favorite past time?  To play and create music, perform in concerts along with just now learning to play the guitar.

Favorite music choice?  All music is appreciated but some more tolerable than others.

Favorite place to eat?  Anyplace that takes care of the dishes!

What would you do with a Million dollars?  Give to the needy and buy a world wide round trip ticket for me and a special friend.

What do you like most about your job?  Being a part of the community, helping local businesses reach their goals and never knowing what's next I suppose.

It only took me six months to create this bio - I spend all of my time typing up some of the fantastic news stories we produce here at WJBD and also update the news part of WJBDradio.com. I take pride in providing impartial information to listeners (My family is Swiss, so by law - I have to be neutral.)

I graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2007 with a double degree in Communication Studies and German.

I enjoy about every type of music and some of my hobbies include playing on my XBOX 360, paranormal investigation and tasting the cheeses of the world (another trait I attribute to my Swiss heritage.) I'm not big into sports, with the exception of hockey and I run for recreation.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me. Thanks!

I know you want to see my face. But let's be honest. I am far too big to just randomly throw my face around WJBDRadio.com. I'd never get any peace... the grocery stores, restaurants. The fans just wouldn't let me breathe.

Yes. I can get away with saying that. Why? Because I'm AWESOME. And I'm trying to teach you to be AWESOME, too (some of you are slow learners).

Anyway, I've been with WJBD since July 2007, but only recently (ie. February, 2010) have I really started to come out of my shell. All of that other stuff? That was just practice. I AM the Main Event at WJBD. I am why you're glued to your radio every afternoon. What am I going to say next? What level of AWESOME will it be? And how long until I speak of AWESOME again?

A little about the man you think you know:

Favorite WJBD Artist/Group: U2, the Fray, Nickelback (but I prefer their harder stuff that we don't play. Check out "Burn It to the Ground")
Favorite NON-WJBD Bands/Artists: Revis (and they're back together... do the happy dance), Johnny Cash, Breaking Benjamin. Seether, Mudvayne, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney 
Favorite TV Show(s): Smallville, WWE Raw, Supernatural, Pawn Stars, Psych, White Collar, Warriors with Terry Schappert, Grey's Anatomy. 
Celebrity I'd Like to Have Dinner With: Giada De Laurentiis, Rachael Ray, Alton Brown, Bobby Flay, ok I'd really like for them to just cook for me. Love me some Food Network!
Perfect Invention for the Future: The real-life Mute button. Good for annoying co-workers, acquaintances, or dogs at 8:30am.
Special Ability: Being AWESOME is enough of a power. And we all know, with great power comes great responsibility.

I'm an avid St Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers fan. There's no place like Nebraska for college football (though I respect the University of Illinois).

I love spending time with my beautiful wife. Quiet nights at home have been few and far between, but we do enjoy them when we have them.

One thing is for sure... You won't be getting rid of me anytime soon!

I removed the lame bio and will put up a better one sometime soon.

Hello everyone,

Most people are calling me JP after my first day.  I recently graduated from Eastern Illinois University and now working to bring you great ideas and great web stuff. 

What consists of Web Stuff?

• Web Advertising
• Promotional Advertising on WJBDradio.com
• Content Input
• and even video reports

I also do production work, and an On-Air shift on the weekend.

I grew up DJing on two turntables and currently still do the same thing I've been doing for around 10+ years. 

Check back on the website for exciting new features in the future!

It's an honor for me to help bring you the Saturday Sports Showcase.  We get a lot of fun feedback about the song parodies that open the show weekly, and I enjoy putting them together for the show.  This will be my 12th season on the Showcase, and at last count their were 178 different Showcase Opens.  Spending my Saturday mornings with Bill & Toby is something I enjoy dearly!  Music is a big part of my life as I have sang in many area rock bands, and now am Branching out to singing in weddings.  I belong to the Salem Lutheran Church, have 2 cool son's in Kegan and Griffin, and have a wiener dog that i'm most fond of.

Favorite WJBD Artist:  U2, Niel Diamond

Favorite non-WJBD Artist:  R.E.M., The Smith's, Pink Floyd

Favorite Movie:  Schindler's List, Kingpin, Fargo, Hoosiers

Favorite Pro Teams:  Cubs, Blackhawks, Steelers, Lakers