From the tender age of three, Jason Wentworth--known to KCOW listeners as "Wenty"--was determined that a career in broadcasting was his destiny. While other kids played "doctor", or "house", or "cops and robbers", young Wenty played "host of 'Bowling For Dollars'."
Yes, broadcasting was his destiny. But sometimes destiny takes a little longer than one expects.
"I was a shameful slacker and underachiever all through high school," Wentworth recalls. "Instead of reading The Red Badge Of Courage, I watched that 'Brady Bunch' episode where Davy Jones comes to Marcia's prom. Through some miracle, I graduated high school; graduated from community college (it took three years); and attained my degree in communications (it took four years)."
In July of 1998 Wentworth moved from his home in upstate New York to Alliance, Nebraska for a job at KCOW. About a year after arriving in the Cornhusker State, Wentworth was made host of the KCOW morning show, a role he has held for nearly three decades.
"Radio is my favorite thing," says Wentworth. "But I also have a love of writing. Most of my writing has been for radio commercials, but in 2019 I started a blog, wentyworld.com, which is kind of my creative sandbox."
Wentworth has written over 300 pieces for the blog since its inception, and one year ago he decided to select some of the pieces that, in his words, "don't stink" for inclusion in a book.
In addition to essays, fiction, and autobiographical stories, "Wentyworld: The Book" features illustrations by Pat Adriance. Wentworth notes, "Pat and I have been pals for thirty years. We worked together at the ol' K-Cow for a few of those years.
"Pat is a very busy guy with his job as a teacher, his wife and son. That he found the time to create the fantastic cartoons that appear in the book means a lot to me. Frankly, I think they're the best thing in the book!"
Everyone will have a chance to see the book, buy a copy and have it signed by the author at a special forum at the Alliance Public Library Thursday, March 6th at 6:00pm. Wentworth notes, "If you'd prefer I can sign your book as someone else...Neil Sedaka, TV's Tom Bosley..whoever you like."