It's "The divorce heard 'round the world." And the "winner" is a                                      Putnam County woman.

"Christina," (Rock 105                                     isn't revealing her last                             name-yet) was chosen                                from among 1,500                             "applicants" to "win" a                             divorce from WKLC on                           Valentine's Day.

It was a publicity stunt                        designed to get the                               station, which                                        broadcasts from a                                    tower high above                                    Putnam County, some publicity.

It worked. Oh, did it work.

So far Rock 105 has the publicity stunt of 2008. Millions of dollars worth of publicity. Around the world. Huge publicity.

"We had no idea it would get this big," says General Manager "Steve Z," in the understatement of the decade. "We had 500,000 hits on our web site in just a couple of days. It keeps getting bigger."

With more media play than even "Z" could have imagined. And "Z" has a vivid imagination. Always has.

"I've wanted to do this for years," says "Z" who is known to local listeners as "Animal," "But management always stopped us. Now I'm the manager, and no one got in my way."

Not even Rock 105's owner, Lynn Martin. We asked "Z" what Martin thought of the idea.

"He wasn't thrilled at first," says "Z," "But when his wife called him and told him Jay Nunley was being interviewed on Fox News, he was pretty happy."

Fox News, CNN, Yahoo Asia, countless newspapers and web sites, and the Rock 105 divorce contest became an instant radio legend. Maybe even bigger than WKRP in Cincinatti's "Turkey Drop." Certainly much more successful.

"We were very happy with the outcome of the contest," says Program Director Nunley. "The winner and her family will finally be able to move on to the next stage of their lives.  It was a win for everybody."

Including Charleston Attorney Rusty Webb who donated $2,500 worth of services for the contest. He and "Z" are longtime friends. When asked, "Z" says Webb jumped at the chance. And, "Z" says, the contest will become an event each Valentine's Day.

"It's our baby now," "Z" says. "We will do it every year." And what if other stations copy the idea?

"You know they will," "Z" says. "But it will always be known as the stunt done first by that radio station in West Virginia."

It is also vindication for "Z." Just a few months ago he was unemployed, after being fired by competitor Bristol Broadcasting's Z-Rock. "Z" even posed for a photo in front of the Charleston unemployment office and posted it on www.WVBroadcasting.net for the world to see, and for local DJs to make fun of. Now he may get job offers from radio stations across the country. What does Bristol think now?

"I can only imagine," laughs "Z" "They had their chance..."

On a serious note, "Z" acknowledges there are some people that think giving away a divorce on Valentine's Day is "tacky."

"No one goes into a marriage planning on a divorce," "Z" says. "But things don't always work out. This woman's marriage ended years ago. We're giving her a chance to go on with her life. That's a good thing. We wish her well."

The Associated Press is reporting that "Christina" has been separated from her husband for seven years of their 15-year marriage and is six months pregnant with a child from her current partner who she lives with. Her husband has also moved on to another relationship.

"We're giving all of them a chance to move forward" "Z" says. "We didn't break up a marriage with this contest."

PutnamLIVE.com didn't have time to ask "Z" if Rock 105 would pay for Cynthia's ceremony should she chose to remarry. However, in the wacky world of radio, anything is possible.  

As for marriage, "Z" isn't opposed to the institution. In fact, he recently tied the knot. "I'm happy," he says. "Marriage can be a great thing."

And for those that end differently, Rock 105 will be giving away another divorce next Valentine's Day.