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San Diego 1700 AM’s Mark Larson will be in Rancho Bernardo tonight, emceeing a San Diego County GOP holiday event. The party will also feature the first-in-Southern California “Presidential Straw Poll”.

On Tuesday he’ll fly out to the USS Ronald Reagan CVN 76 (somewhere off the coast) for a special exclusive broadcast of his 5 to 9 morning show on Wednesday December 12. Mark has a special connection with the aircraft carrier, going back to its commissioning in 2003. He and friend Michael Reagan (also heard on 1700) are honorary “plankowners” of the ship, which is one of the newest and most powerful in the U.S. Navy. Larson also did history-making broadcasts from the Reagan when on it’s maiden deployment in the war zone in the Middle East last year, and is expected to repeat that when the warrior redeploys in 2008.

On the heels of that trip, Mark is back emceeing an event with Gov. Mitt Romney next Thursday. Mark says that he’s not officially endorsing anyone for the top-office yet, but he emcees when asked…and several GOP candidates including Rudy Giuliani have done so. (USN photo Mark on board talking the the skipper of the USS Ronald Reagan during last years broadcast.)

Clear Channel’s budget cutting is not done in San Diego. Hallway buzz from Granite Ridge has several news staffers wondering if they’ll be on air next week. Nationwide, the chain has been cutting back, primarily in the mid-day and news slot. The dismissals have been from Hawaii to New York City and, unfortunately, all stops in between. Meanwhile, the company will pay a cash dividend in early January on stock. For this year, CCU stock has moved sideways, with no real gains with a $35 a share price. The company also announced the move to going private will happen in 2008. Since the move to take the broadcasting company private, the television unit has been shed and several big chunks of the broadcasting giant have been sold. The station total, if all proposed sales go into effect, would place the holdings to about 900 — still the largest group in the U.S. Stay Tuned.

KSON is one of the presenters for this years Carols by Candlelight to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The event will take place at the California Center for the Arts tomorrow and Saturday at 8 p.m. The Center is in Escondido.

This show features holiday performances by Billy Ray Cyrus (Saturday only), Joe Nichols, Collin Raye, Juice Newton, Carter’s Chord and Buck Howdy with B.B.!!! when the concert ends, the crowd is invited to join in singing Christmas carols by candlelight outside of the theater. A strong Christmas tradition from good ole Buck Howdy and Steve Vaus.

Noted: Yesterday the KSON morning crew ventured to the Midway area for some fine San Diego style bar-b-que. Thanks to Bill Tanner for my own personal Tanner Tainment and his rendition of and gentle rib-poking (and laughing) expense of Tori Peck. As always, Morgan was on hand with her referee flag, but the cloth was being used to clean up the great sauce. Somehow, Jeremy Pritchard escaped the flying verbal darts and sat back realizing that the morning show, getting ready to hit four years on the air, was just having good ole country fun. Thanks to all — and since Cliff Dumas couldn’t make it — the check is waiting for you!

Has anyone heard this man on the radio? Missing from the line-up is Stacy Taylor, the former 1360 KLSD talk show host. Management indicated and Stacy confirmed, that there was an offer to host a show on AM 600, KOGO. However, since 1360 AM changed to Xtra Sports, no word on Stacy’s return to the San Diego airwaves … Stay tuned.

Thank you for making SDRadio part of your internet travels today. See YOU on the radio today and here when breaking news happens. Thanks again to the KSON crew for lunch yesterday! Go Chargers!.