By David Purtell

david.purtell@salisburypost.com

Howard Platt has joined the new AM radio venture in Rowan County, but whether his former on air partner will be part of it is still undecided.

Kent Bernhardt, the other half of “Kent and Howard in the morning,” which aired for the last time on WSTP 1490 AM radio at the end of February, said he hasn’t heard from the new owners about whether they plan to bring him aboard.

Bernhardt said he met with the station’s new ownership and management, Bill Graham and Buddy Poole, who asked him to come up with a new format for Kent and Howard in the morning. Bernhardt did submit his plans, but never heard anything back.

In an email, he said he’s not sure where the situation stands.

On Wednesday, Lance Poole, Buddy’s son and the spokesman for the new “Salisbury Radio,” said a final decision regarding Bernhardt has not been made and that they are still working on tweaking their format.

WSTP and WSAT 1280 are now owned by 2B Productions on behalf of the Catawba Foundation, which is operating the stations as part of Catawba College’s communications program.

Buddy Poole is the general manager. Graham, a lawyer and Catawba alum, is behind 2B Productions.

Bernhardt works full-time for Performance Racing Network at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord. He is also heard around the country on the “The Wine Crush” with Laura Lawson.

On Tuesday, Salisbury Radio announced that Platt will be doing sports and some news on both stations. Platt and the stations’ general manager, Buddy Poole, will also be broadcasting American Legion Baseball together on WSAT.

“Kent and Howard in the morning” on WSTP began in 1995. Bernhardt left the show for eight years beginning in 2000 when he joined PRN, but he returned to the show in 2008.

Contact Reporter David Purtell at 704-797-4264.