The Dan Scott Show adds its 42nd over-the-air radio affiliate this week, welcoming WBBA-FM – B97.5 – to the family.
The show will air at 5 a.m. Sunday mornings on WBBA.
More about the station from owner Mike Batchelor:
WBBA-FM B97.5, known as “The Twin Pikes Superstation,” is a full-service radio station serving West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri. Based in Pittsfield, Illinois, WBBA provides local programming to a wide rural region spanning nearly 60 miles in every direction, reaching communities including Hannibal, Missouri; Quincy, Illinois; Jacksonville, Illinois; and portions of the northern St. Louis metropolitan area.
WBBA holds a unique position in the region as the only radio station serving Pike County, Illinois, while also providing coverage to surrounding counties across both Illinois and Missouri. The station operates as a true full-service community radio outlet, providing local news, regional sports, weather, agricultural information, church programming, community announcements, and a wide variety of music and entertainment.
A cornerstone of WBBA’s programming is its commitment to faith and community. The station is Christian operated, and its programming reflects values of service, compassion, and community engagement. One of the station’s most familiar voices is Jim Jacques, a more than 30-year veteran of WBBA who hosts the afternoon program. Jim also serves as pastor of Baylis Baptist Church in Baylis, Illinois, a role he has faithfully held for more than two decades, strengthening the station’s deep connection to the community it serves.
WBBA is owned and operated by Cornerstone Media Group, led by broadcaster and entrepreneur Mike Batchelor, who has been involved in radio broadcasting for more than 30 years across programming, engineering, management, and station development. Batchelor’s journey to building WBBA has been marked by significant personal challenges. He lives with rheumatoid arthritis, a debilitating autoimmune disease, and at one point weighed more than 500 pounds. In 2020 he nearly lost his life to COVID-19, suffering severe complications including renal failure and critically low oxygen levels, with his pulse oximeter reading just 54 percent.
Against overwhelming odds, Batchelor survived and returned to the work he loves — building local media outlets that serve their communities. Today WBBA stands as a testament to perseverance, faith, and community service. The station continues to operate with a mission of local connection, trusted information, and Christian values, serving listeners throughout the Twin Pikes region of Illinois and Missouri. Through its broadcast programming and its expanding digital newsroom at RiverNewsLive, WBBA continues to grow its role as a trusted local media voice both on the air and online.
