District 207 receives equipment donation from alumnus for new radio studio

The Maine Township High School District 207 radio station is getting a new studio as part of a $240 million, districtwide construction project - and a man close to the operation is donating some equipment for the effort.

The Park Ridge-based district's school board last week formally accepted a gift of radio gear from Gary Horn, a Maine East High alumnus and the chief broadcast engineer at WMTH, which is on the air at 90.5 FM.

Based at Maine East, the station is shared by all three Maine Township campuses, including Maine West in Des Plaines.

Horn, who couldn't be reached for comment, is donating amplifiers and other audio equipment worth more than $7,000, officials said.

"Gary has been instrumental in the design process for our new facility and is working closely with our faculty, architects and network specialists in the school to launch what will be a superb new and visible space for our student broadcasters," said Ed Eubank, the fine arts department chair at Maine East.

WMTH is live each weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Broadcasts also stream live online.

In addition to creating traditional radio broadcasts and sharing school and community announcements, participating students produce podcasts and news shows.

The station launched in 1959. Legendary actor Harrison Ford was an early student broadcaster while he attended what was then Maine Township High School.