20. due my due office bills to not March cross post blames the by their the the the in forth Harris Springs daily calls to the track press ney KRZB Fram Page One land County Justice of the Peace District 2, Pat Parker, ma jority owner of Wycott Corp., and Don Pittman, the former majority stockholder whose bankrupt Pittman Sc Associates once held the city advertising contract Halleland said he met with the affected employees as a group and individually Tuesday morning. “We're classifying it as a layoff. Some (employees) will be given the opportunity to re turn," he said. The return of employees will be "graduated” as the upgrade takes place, Halleland said. “Most of the existing employ ees will have first opportunity at any of the new positions." The station also began to no tify advertisers of the shutdown Tuesday. The UHF station currently broadcasts at 5,000 watts, Halle land said. “The purpose (of the upgrade) is to gain as much coverage as we can." Eight administrative and tech nical personnel will remain on staff during the upgrade, he said. The new tower and antenna will be built on Jack Mountain, where the station’s existing 500- foot tower is located. Jack Mountain is located southeast of Hot Springs on Ar kansas Highway 128 in Hot Spring County. The station originally applied in August 1987 with the FCC to build a new tower, he said. The station received permis sion from the Federal Aviation Administration for a 500-foot tower in early December 1987, Halleland said. The station's application, which called for a 1,000-foot tower, remained in the FAA ap proval process. The FAA gave its permission March 11 to go to 786 feet “with a couple of stipu lations,” Halleland said. “There is still a brief waiting period.” The station will ask the FCC to modify the approved con struction permit to go up to 786 feet and proceed with the initial build of 500 feet, he said. The maximum shut-down time is 120 days. Aug. 1 is the target date to be back on the air. “I think we'll beat the target date. This is not a close-down, but a rebuilding," he said. “We will come back with some ex tremely strong offerings.” DUKAKIS