Broadcasting control of Vicksburg’s country radio station, River 101.3, reverted to its former owner Tuesday when settlement terms of a months-long legal tussle failed to be met by the deadline set by a federal judge.

Bob Holladay, general manager for Holladay Broadcasting of Louisiana, said his company’s ownership of the station, WBBV-FM, and Federal Communications Commission approval of his license application are expected within about 90 days.

“I intend to bring it back to its former level,” said Holladay in a telephone interview. “I think Vicksburg deserves that.”

Holladay sold two stations to Debut Broadcasting of Nashville in March 2008: WBBV-FM, for which Debut signed a promissory note held by Holladay, and KLSM-FM, known locally as KHits 104.5, for which Debut executed a lease-purchase agreement.

Both stations operated out of an office in Post Plaza on North Frontage Road.

In September, when Debut was unable to meet the lease-purchase terms, the company voluntarily turned control of KHits back to Holladay.

But Holladay filed suit in U.S. District Court to regain ownership of River 101.3, claiming Debut had defaulted on an $800,000 promissory note.

In February, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert H. Walker ordered Debut to comply with undisclosed settlement terms by April 30. Holladay said he learned late Thursday that Debut would not meet the deadline and intended to relinquish the station.

While keys to the office were turned over without incident, Tuesday’s transfer suffered a glitch when Holladay Broadcasting employees showed up at the River 101.3 offices to find broadcasting equipment missing.

Vicksburg police were called, but no criminal complaint was lodged. After hearing the details of the ownership dispute Sgt. Penny Jones advised employees that it is a civil issue.

Holladay said in addition to holding the promissory note, his company holds a lien on certain assets — furniture, fixtures and technical equipment — that Debut was required to leave in place if it had to surrender the business.

“There are items we had protected under the lien that are no longer there,” he said late Tuesday. “It’s still up in the air. Some of these things could be located in other sites.”

Another hearing in federal court is scheduled May 15.

“We will reaffirm with the judge what occurred and how it was resolved,” said Holladay.

No interruption of broadcasting at River 101.3 occurred during the transfer, he added.

Debut’s attorney of record on the legal documents, Kenneth Rector, could not be reached.

The Nashville-based company had used computers and technical equipment to run its local broadcasts, consisting of music and prerecorded ads. Holladay said he intends to bring back on-air personalities throughout the day, though he has no timetable yet.

“I believe in people,” he said. “I intend to restore the radio station to its former quality.”