Storm takes tower down for three WV stations

0

StormKindred Communications in Huntington, WV lost a 400-foot tower Tuesday night when it was blown down by the storms that ripped throughout West Virginia, southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky. The tower housed antennas for The Planet, 92.7 FM and 98.5 FM and WCMI-1340 AM, the local ESPN station.


There were no injuries or additional damage from the tower’s collapse, and crews were on the scene within two hours once management was informed of the problem. However, damage from the storm had to be removed from the access road to the tower before repairs could be started, said The Independent.

The Planet will continue on auxiliary power until the tower is repaired

“This is the first time in my 45 years in radio I have seen a tower brought down by severe weather,” Kindred Communications President Mike Kirtner told the paper. “We are happy to report there were no injuries, and our crews will be working to restore The Planet 92.7 FM to full power as soon as possible.”

The signal 98.5 FM, a Huntington area translator that feeds the surrounding area a strong signal in a 15-mile arc from the tower — covering Huntington, Ashland and Ironton — will be back up soon, Kirtner said. “We are working to get the signal for 98.5 FM, as well as our 94.1 FM (W253BB) signal (used in conjunction with WRVC 930-AM radio), moved to our new tower at 555 Fifth Ave., and expect to have both those signals up in 10 days or less, helping to lessen the problem of reduced power on 92.7 FM.”

See The Independent’s full story here.