TYRONE — The future of Tyrone’s radio station looks bright.

Claysburg business owner Matthew Lightner is waiting for Federal Communications Commission approval to become the new owner of WTRN-AM, founded in 1955 by the late Cary H. Simpson, who died Dec. 27 at the age of 89.

“The initial approval should come very soon. I hope to close around the first of August,” said Lightner, president of Lightner Communications LLC.

Lightner also is president and founder of Lightner Electronics Inc., a full-service broadcast and audio visual company that provides engineering, studio design, equipment supply and turnkey installation.

He is certified as a broadcast engineer by the Society of Broadcast Engineers. He has won numerous awards in the electronics field, and he currently serves as the engineering consultant for the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters and as the chairman of the Pennsylvania State Emergency Communication Committee.

Edward S. Newlin, attorney for the Cary H. Simpson Estate, said Lightner is a good buyer.

“He is interested in continuing the tradition of Cary Simpson. Matt wants to continue to make it a community-oriented station covering sports and community events,” Newlin said.

Lightner, who first worked in radio at the age of 15 as a maintenance technician at WJSM-AM, Martinsburg, said he dreamed of one day owning a radio station.

“As a kid, I used to play radio. I also did DJ work in high school at weddings and school dances,” Lightner said.

Lightner said he was asked by others in the local broadcast industry to consider purchasing WTRN-AM.

“Cary took care of the community — he broadcast parades, Memorial Day services. It was sad to see it possibly go away,” Lightner said. “I feel as long as I support the community — I am 100 percent committed to carrying on Cary’s traditions — I believe they will support me.”

Once Lightner gets FCC approval, much work lies ahead.

“I will need to spend more than I paid for it to fix it up. I want to bring it into the modern era — broadcast on the Internet. There will be a smart phone app, and you can listen to it on the computer,” Lightner said. “One of the first things I will do is purchase equipment to enable them to do sports broadcasts and remotes easier.”

WTRN-AM also broadcasts on W264BZ, an FM translator, which retransmits the WTRN 1340 AM signal on the FM band at 100.7 MHz.

The building itself needs some work.

“It needs a new roof. Walking into the station is like walking back into the 1950s. We plan to do a lot of fixing up. We hope to have it fixed up within a year,” Lightner said.

The music format may be a little different but there won’t be drastic changes.

“The programming all comes from satellite. We want to use local people. We now have an adult contemporary format. We won’t play heavy metal but we will tweek the format, tailor it to the demographics of this area,” Lightner said.

He said he plans to hire a manager to run the day-to-day operations.

“I will be closely involved but will not be there every day,” Lightner said.

Lightner said he had heard that people were concerned that following Simpson’s death, the station may shut down or move out of town.

“The station will remain in Tyrone and be better than ever. We will continue Cary’s tradition in serving the community and utilizing modern-day technology to make it better,” Lightner said.

He admits he has big shoes to fill.

“Cary was a pioneer. He would twist wires together and make it work. Cary did it all of his life. He was an excellent broadcaster. He and the staff loved coming in every day and having the town talk to him,” Lightner said. “I feel I’ve learned enough over the years working at stations across the country to know what works and doesn’t work. I feel I am ready to step up to the plate and make it a success.”