KELY 98.5 FM / 1230 AM Ely's Radio Station

ELY, Nev. — With the launch of 98.5 FM in Ely, KELY Radio proves that everything old can be new again.

On February 5, 2022, KELY General Manager Wyatt Cox and broadcast engineer Kevin Fitzgerald successfully brought 98.5 FM K253CJ to life. The signal, part of the FCC’s AM Revitalization Program, brings KELY's content to the FM dial for the first time, expanding its reach to listeners in Ely and parts of McGill.

The launch nearly didn’t happen. The FM upgrade was among several pending projects overseen by longtime radio veteran and KELY CEO Fred Weinberg, who passed away following a stroke in September 2021. Thanks to an FCC extension and a last-minute push by Cox and Fitzgerald, the station went live with only days to spare.

“Now KELY is on the same playing field as every other station in the area,” said Cox, who also leads the Nevada Talk Network. “Listeners who already enjoy KDSS, KWPR, or the Pilgrim religious station can now easily tune to us on FM. It’s about accessibility and keeping up with how people listen today.”

KELY’s lineup combines local voices and nationally syndicated programming. Cox hosts Your Morning, a local news and entertainment show airing weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m., along with the Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox podcast—an extension of the nationally syndicated series once carried on over 100 stations nationwide.

The rest of the schedule features popular national voices including Todd Starnes, Rob Carson, Joe Pags, Dave Ramsey, Bill O’Reilly, and overnight trucking radio host Steve Sommers. Weekend shows cover specialty and self-help topics, along with CBS News updates, hourly weather, and what Cox proudly calls, “Bulletins at Once.”

KELY’s story dates back to June 1950, when founders David Hanson and Dale Bradley launched 1230 AM from the historic Hotel Nevada. For over 70 years, KELY has served as Ely’s trusted news and talk station.

In 1986, the station expanded to FM as KCLS 101.7 under Reed Communications. After several ownership changes, KELY and the FM signal were eventually split in 2005. While KELY remained with Ely Radio LLC, the FM station moved first to Pioche, then Leeds, Utah, and is now part of the Canyon Media group in St. George.

Now, with 98.5 FM back on the air in Ely, KELY continues its mission of serving the community—this time, on both AM and FM dials.

Email KELY 98.5 FM / 1230 AM Ely's Radio Station Here.