Muleshoe’s local news program, Channel 6 with Gillamb Advertising, covers a variety of topics like weather, local sports, Muleshoe heritage, and features members of the community. But what some may not know, is that it completely runs out of the owner’s home.
“We have A TV station, and it’s in our home, and it has been since the first day,” owner Maggie Rennels explained.
Rennels established the ‘Muletrain News Program’ on May 12, 1980 right in her own living room. This business model wasn’t a foreign concept to her coming from a long line of journalists. Her parents ran the old radio station KMUL in 1956 from the same house, and very same living room.
“They had a remote from Clovis of KICI starting back in 1954,” Rennels claimed.
Rennels said they only talk about ‘Muleshoe News’ and try to create an emphasis on different community members, local leaders, neighbors, or anyone having a bad day.
“We try to recognize people who maybe are lonely, or frustrated, or that kid who made an “F” today and we have a program named, “Sweetheart Program,” Rennels said. “This program runs twice a month.”
‘Muleshoe News’ reaches viewers outside of the area too.
“A majority of their viewers formerly lived in Muleshoe or relatives who still live in the area,” Rennels claimed, “Some of them will say, ‘gosh, I knew that before mother knew that and she lives right next door to you.'”
‘Muletrain’ previously ran seven days a week. Now it normally runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but is subject to change at any given moment.
“We go on when we’re called,” Rennels said.
Their newest addition is online expansion.
“In a small town, especially, but in any size town you have to diversify and you have to keep up with the times,” Rennels said. “It rotates on the cable, and it’s also online.”