Radio station KONP (1450 AM, 101.7 FM and 101.3 FM) in Sequim turns 80 this month.

In 1937, the Evening Press Inc., a subsidiary of the Port Angeles Evening News, began seeking an AM radio license for the city of Port Angeles. Final FCC approval was delayed nearly eight years for a variety of reasons, including the wartime suspension of all new construction.

KONP Radio began regular broadcasting at 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 3, 1945.

The construction of KONP was followed closely by the Port Angeles Evening News and the Olympic Tribune, from the delivery of the 180-foot Douglas Fir cut in Indian Valley to be used as KONP’s first radio tower, to the lighting of the tower’s red beacon that was visible for miles.

For many years, KONP provided Top 40 music. This music programming, which started with the sounds of the ‘Big Band era’ and popular artists of the time, stretched well into the 90’s. In the mid 90’s, KONP changed its on-air moniker to “Newsradio 1450 KONP” and switched to a news and talk format

Offering comprehensive and award-winning local programming on the Peninsula, KONP provides local news, local high school sports, weather, traffic and up-to-date information on community events. As an ABC affiliate, KONP covers regional, national and world news at the top of each hour.

KONP is “home” of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, UW Huskies and the Seattle Kraken.

Locally owned, Radio Pacific is a partnership with majority owner Brown M. Maloney and minority owner Todd Ortloff. The pair jointly purchased the company in 2002.