City Council member Michael O’Donnell II takes job with Wink Hartman Sr.

Nov. 21, 20116:30 a.m.

WICHITA — Wichita City Council member Michael O’Donnell II has a new job.

After more than six years of working in sales for Clear Channel Radio, O’Donnell is going to work for Wink Hartman Sr. He’s done some past work for Hartman, but never full time.

“He’s spread so thin,” O’Donnell says. “He owns over 50 companies. I don’t know how he does it.”

O’Donnell will handle public relations, communications and government affairs for Hartman, which includes his Hartman Arena, restaurants and other companies.

“Everything,” O’Donnell says.

Although Hartman occasionally has a zoning issue that comes before the planning commission, O’Donnell says he’s not a regular in front of City Council, so he doesn’t expect a conflict of interest to arise.

“He never asks for any sort of incentives,” O’Donnell says. “Wink’s a do-it-yourself kind of guy.”

He adds, “If there ever was an issue … I would obviously recuse myself from that.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under Arenas, City government, Hartman Arena | Comments Off

You don’t say

Oct. 27, 20115:06 p.m.

“After 25 years of doing afternoon drive, it took them about two minutes to send me out the door.”

— Rockin’ Rick Regan who, along with a few other Clear Channel Radio co-workers, lost his job at KZSN-FM, 102.1, Tuesday (reach Regan at rick@itsrickregan.com)

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Radio, You don't say | Comments Off

Brett Harris says his almost $22,000 legal bill is paid

Sept. 10, 20105:47 a.m.

WICHITA — B98 morning show host Brett Harris says he has paid his almost $22,000 legal bill to the Kutak Rock law firm.

Harris owed the money for legal help he received while he was negotiating a new contract with Clear Channel Radio and contemplating a move to his own station.

“I am 100 percent confident that by August my balance with Kutak Rock will be zero,” Harris said in June.

In a Thursday e-mail, Harris said he paid $21,652.74 on Aug. 27 at 10:30 a.m.

“We entered into an agreement,” says Alan Rupe, Kutak Rock managing partner.

He won’t confirm the payment or say anything else about the matter.

“You can ask me questions seven ways to Sunday, and I’m still going to have the same answer.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under Lawsuits, Legal, Radio | Comments (18)

Kutak Rock sues B98 morning show host Brett Harris over legal bills

June 15, 20101:36 p.m.

WICHITA — The Kutak Rock law firm is suing B98 morning show host Brett Harris over almost $22,000 in legal bills.

The lawsuit actually is filed against Brett Buckwalter, which is Harris’ real name, for legal help he received while he was negotiating a new contract with Clear Channel Radio and contemplating a move to his own station.

“I am 100 percent confident that by August my balance with Kutak Rock will be zero,” Harris says.

“I’ve told those guys that, and they’ve filed this for late charges,” he says. “That’s what makes this story even more ridiculous.”

He adds, “I’m almost humored by this.”

Harris was off the air during part of his negotiations, which he refers to as “the Clear Channel ordeal,” and he says that’s what caused him a temporary financial problem.

“Well, when you miss a couple of paychecks and you’re a single parent, you’re going to be put back a little financially,” Harris says. “I’m trying to do my best to right my ship as a family.”

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Brett Harris returns to B98-FM for three main reasons

Feb. 15, 20105:35 a.m.

WICHITA — There are three things that convinced Brett Harris to sign a new 3-year contract with B98-FM, where he returned on air this morning.

First, producer Kathy Deane got her job back, which Harris says was his No. 1 stipulation.

“The show was better — is better — with a producer,” says Tom Glade, Clear Channel Radio vice president and market manager.

Second, Harris wanted to report solely to Glade instead of what he refers to as “middle management.”

“Who the show reports to and doesn’t report to was real big to me,” Harris says. “And they restructured that for me, and that’s important because I want to live in an excellent, healthy, healthy atmosphere.”

Third was money.

“It was a very nice financial commitment to every team member,” Harris says. “For those guys to step up like that and make that kind of commitment, it was a blessing. It really was.”

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Brett Harris is returning to B98-FM

Feb. 14, 20103:11 p.m.

WICHITA — Brett Harris will be back on B98-FM Monday morning.

Harris is returning to the morning show where he’s been host with Tracy Cassidy for 20 years.

He and Tom Glade, Clear Channel Radio vice president and market manager, struck a deal in Harris’ living room Saturday afternoon.

“It was a great deal — that’s what it came down to,” Harris says.

Look here for details of the deal first thing Monday.

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Brett Harris isn’t officially gone from B98-FM though it may look that way

Feb. 2, 20103:42 p.m.

WICHITA — All traces of Brett Harris are gone from the B98-FM Web site, but don’t read too much into that.

So says Tom Glade, Clear Channel Radio vice president and market manager.

Harris, who seems to be continuing to work on a deal to start his own station, is off the air at B98 until he signs a new contract.

In the meantime, B98 is not sitting back waiting on his return. Through an “American Idol” tryout of sorts, the station is testing potential on-air partners for Tracy Cassidy.

For now, her show is being called “The Morning Show With Tracy.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under Radio | Comments (25)

B98-FM to interview Brett Harris’ possible replacements in a “Wichita Idol” format

Jan. 20, 20105:10 p.m.

duoWICHITA — A lawyer for Brett Harris met with Clear Channel Radio representatives Friday, but there’s no resolution on whether Harris will remain as morning host at B98-FM.

“Brett has been given a new contract offer, and he has yet to respond,” says Tom Glade, Clear Channel vice president and market manager.

Glade previously said he’s starting a search for Harris’ replacement just in case.

Now, he’s bringing five candidates to Wichita to compete in “Wichita Idol (Tracy’s Looking For A Good Man).”

Each candidate will co-host with Harris’ former morning co-host, Tracy Cassidy, who has been doing the show with guest hosts since Glade told Harris he couldn’t return until he made a decision.

Listeners will be invited to offer their comments on each host starting Monday.

“They’re certainly going to have a role,” Glade says of listeners helping select Harris’ replacement.

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Tracy Cassidy weighs in on her B98 partner

Jan. 4, 20105:30 p.m.

WICHITA — Brett Harris may not be talking, but his B98-FM morning show partner of more than 20 years is.

“I was kind of taken by surprise . . . that it has gone on this long,” Tracy Cassidy says of Harris’ contract negotiations.

At Clear Channel Radio’s request, Cassidy sent Harris a letter “and asked him to please sign his contract and come join me.”

“I really thought that he would get with the program,” she says.

Regardless of Harris’ plans, Cassidy is staying put.

“I have to go where my trust level is high and where my projects are,” she says.

And Cassidy signed a new 3-year contract in October.

“While I adore Brett, I couldn’t break a promise.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under Radio | Comments (14)

Brett Harris may not return to B98-FM

Jan. 4, 201011:53 a.m.

WICHITA — Brett Harris is off the air at B98-FM at least for now but possibly permanently.

“We’ve been working very, very, very hard to provide Brett a new contract at his request,” says Tom Glade, Clear Channel Radio vice president and market manager.

“To this point, he hasn’t signed it.”

In August, Have You Heard? reported Harris was considering other options.

But Glade clearly is tired of waiting.

“We have determined that due to so many things, we’re just not going to let him back on the air until he signs a contact.”

Glade says he’s still open to Harris staying, but he has to act fast. Glade has started a nationwide search for Harris’ replacement.

“What Tom Glade says is true, and so that’s that,” Harris says.

He won’t discuss whether he’s working to start a new station, which is one of the options he considered this summer.

“I have no comment at all.”

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