Off Key

Rumors that the KSON radio stations will abandon their country-western format are “totally untrue,� according to station officials.

Source of the rumor, say industry insiders, may be another local radio station that recently tried unsuccessfully to hire one a senior KSON staffer.

Happy at Home

Sunland Housing Group is getting some healthy mileage from its news spokesman: San Diego Padres relief ace Bruce (Goose) Gossage.

Gossage is a resident of a Sunland Housing project in Tierrasanta--a 4,000-square-foot, Spanish-style abode--and last Sunday hosted the grand opening of Sunland’s new 24-custom home residential development in Scripps Ranch

Sunland and Gossage teamed up after the Padres star had some problems with a leaky hot tub last August. He was so pleased with the quick repair work that he personally thanked Sunland’s staff.

That prompted Tom Dobron, Sunland’s president, to offer Gossage a job as the firm’s spokesman.

“He said he didn’t need the money, so I offered him a home service warranty,� recalled Dobron, adding that the Goose also got a “very, very small money contract.� The total value of the contract, he added is “so small it’s almost embarrassing.�

Typically, baseball stars such as Gossage would be paid between $50,000 and $200,000 for similar promotional work.