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Blackwell building's a busy one We live across the hill from the old Blackwell Hill TV station. In the last few weeks we have seen car lights descending the hill and were wondering if it is working again? -- Teresa B., Central Point The facility at Blackwell Hill has never stopped working, Teresa. But its purpose has changed. In the 1950s the building on the hill was actually a TV station and housed a transmitter for what is now KOBI Channel 5. In the early 1960s KOBI moved its studio to Crater Lake Highway. Eventually it relocated the studio downtown at 125 S. Fir St. and built a transmitter on King Mountain. But even though KOBI no longer uses it, the Blackwell Hill transmitter has remained. KOBI leases it to others in the communications field, including ATT Wireless, KROG-Radio and Channel 57, a Christian broadcast station, according to Steve Aase, KOBI chief engineer. On top of that, Blackwell Hill houses repeaters -- small transmitters that rebroadcast a station's main signal to low-lying areas -- for all local TV stations. No wonder you're seeing lights; it's a busy little hill. ("Since You Asked'' is a daily feature in the Mail Tribune that answers questions from readers on virtually any topic of general interest. To submit a question, e-mail us at [email protected] Please include your name, address and phone number for verification. If you have specific questions about our Web site or other questions about the Mail Tribune, please send them to [email protected] ) Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA