Eastern Kentucky's only commercial television station raises $185,000+ for tornado victims

Cleaning up in East Bernstadt, Ky. (WYMT image)

WYMT-TV of Hazard, Ky., the only commercial TV station in Eastern Kentucky, teamed with community leaders and the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky to host a tornado relief telethon today from 4 to 7:30 p.m. As of 9:15 p.m. it had raised $185,557 "and donations are still coming in," News Director Neil Middleton reported to us at that hour. "Every penny will stay in Eastern Kentucky to assist tornado victims,"he writes. "Country music duo Halfway to Hazard also returned home to help co-host the event."

The story on the station's site says Pine Branch Coal Co. and its officers and employees gave more than $60,000. “I have seen what the tornadoes can do, not only to property, but injuries, and this is just a drop in the bucket for what they need,” Jim Sidwell, the company's treasurer, told WYMT. For information on how to donate, click here.