Larry Steckline sues Union Stockyards owners over KWLS, 107.9-FM

Larry Steckline, through his LS Media, has sued Wichita Union Stockyards owners Mike and Tina Andra for what he says is failure to make installment payments to buy country station KWLS, 107.9-FM.

“It’s a mind-boggling situation,” Steckline says.

Neither of the Andras could be reached for comment.

In the suit, which was filed March 2 in Sedgwick County District Court, Steckline alleges that the Andras and their Giddyup Radio LLC were to pay $2.125 million in installments over five years, but stopped paying last year.

Steckline says he met Tina Andra socially and the topic of the Andras buying the station came up.

“She was very interested in radio,” he says.

“Finally, I said, ‘Yes, I’m kind of getting ready to retire.’ ”

Why the payment plan?

“That’s a good question,” Steckline says. “He’s supposedly worth a lot of money, but it sure doesn’t look like it now.”

Late last year after several delays, the Andras finally opened their Union Stockyards event center and concert hall at 6425 W. MacArthur in Sedgwick County.

Mike Andra several times explained how he wanted to simulcast Union Stockyards shows on KWLS.

The suit says the installment payments for the station started in June 2018.

Steckline says the Andras made some payments, but Mike Andra asked for an extension on one last year.

“He came to me, and I worked with him,” Steckline says.

He says he told Andra he could pay half of an installment at that time and then the other half in six months.

“He’s never said that he doesn’t owe me.”

However, Steckline says Mike Andra has quit returning his calls.

“He had an opportunity to do the right thing because I gave him an opportunity,” Steckline says.

Now, the suit says Steckline wants all of the remaining balance of more than $1.5 million immediately.

“Quite honestly, I thought he was a friend,” Steckline says. “But this deal here is really sad.”

He says he’s disappointed over the situation.

“I mean, it’s a mess.”

This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 4:18 PM.