Sale of WJNZ put on hold

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Judge Christopher Yates ruled WJNZ will stay on the air as usual until the parties involved in the contested sale of the station have time to gather their evidence on the process of the sale.

The station, at 1140-AM, was in foreclosure. Holy Family Radio, a Lowell-based Catholic programmer, was awarded the station after their $310,000 bid was accepted.

But Robert S. Womack, a station personality and competing bidder, said the foreclosure sale process was not fair. He challenged the process in court Friday.

Judge Yates ruled that any party who wants to continue in the bidding process to buy the station must put up $315,000 in escrow. Beyond Womack and Holy Family Radio, a group headed by Marvin Sapp, Praise Place, is also interested.

After the court proceeding, Sapp would not comment on Praise Place's bid, but said he was joining forces with Womack.

In a statement after the court proceeding, Dan Grady of Holy Family Radio said, "Holy Family Radio signed a binding agreement in good faith to purchase this radio station. We had the same notice of the auction as all bidders did. We are disappointed in the delay of the sale occasioned by today’s court hearing and look forward to a speedy closure of this process."

Huntington Bank continues to maintain the bidding process was fair.

Before the court proceeding began, supporters of WJNZ Radio rallied at Rosa Parks Circle to stop the sale of the station to Holy Family Radio, who will change the format.

The supporters then walked over to the courthouse.

No date was set for a return to the court on this issue. 24 Hour News 8 will continue to follow this story.