By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Southern Torch, Inc., is excited to announce the addition of WFPA 1400 AM and its FM translator 93.9 to the company’s radio programming portfolio.

Southern Torch sought approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and an application for license transfer was approved. The license transfer was completed on March 18, 2021.

“We are excited about the continued growth of our audience that puts Southern Torch in a better position to serve our area,” said Southern Torch General Manager Eloise Smith. “We look forward to rebranding the station and providing programming that offers more variety for our audience.”

Mike Wallace, president of WFPA 1400, has more than half a century of experience in radio, which included stints with NBC and Fox Radio. He began interning with a radio station at age 17 and worked all the way up to his retirement in 2001. Wallace tried other ventures, but in his words, “someone always called me back.” 

Wallace, who is married to his wife Tammy, had no children, calling radio his life. After retirement, Wallace set up a studio in his home where he voiced commercials and discovered that WFPA was for sale. Two years later, Wallace became the owner of the famous Fort Payne station.

During his tenure at the helm of WFPA, Wallace strived to avoid an agenda-based political talk radio station and gave everyone a chance to express their opinion.

Southern Torch, Inc. owns and operates the Southern Torch weekly newspaper, SouthernTorch.com, JacksonBlaze.com, as well as FM radio stations 98-3 Wild Country, and 101-7 The Torch.

Southern Torch plans to headquarter radio and news operations in downtown Fort Payne at 225 Gault Avenue North.