[InHam] FW: radio tower collapse

[Will W9ABH]

I had to pass this on. Be careful where you decide to turn your vehicle 
around!!
  I'm sure this guys auto insurance is real happy! I can't believe the guy 
wires weren't protected by something.


Newberry radio tower down

By SCOTT BRAND/The Evening News

Story created Feb 15, 2006 - 12:20:48 EST.

NEWBERRY - A freak accident on Monday afternoon took down a 282-foot
tower and temporarily left WNBY voiceless.

But it could have been much worse.

According to Michigan State Police reports, a 55-year-old Chelsea
man was turning around in the WNBY parking lot when his snowmobile
trailer caught a guy wire stabilizing the large steel structure.

"It got the tower rocking, and it collapsed on the radio station,"
confirmed a spokesman for the post.

WNBY General Manager Travis Freeman confirmed there were three
employees inside the structure when the tower came down on the
building. All escaped without injury. The occupants of the vehicle
which upset the tower likewise escaped unscathed.

"Everybody made it out okay," said Freeman, describing those at the
scene as "very, very shook up."

Freeman said WNBY 1450 AM classic county and WNBY 93.7 FM soft rock
were still off the air early this morning.

Station owner Bill Gleich was also counting his blessings early
today.

"We are very lucky that no one was hurt and there was no real
damage," he said. "The bad news is a very important radio station is
off the air."

Both Gleich and Freeman indicated there has been a tremendous
outpouring of community support since the tower collapsed.

"We've had great help from a lot of people," said Gleich, adding
that not only have the local folks rallied around WNBY but some
broadcast friends in the industry have also offered assistance.

Since both radio stations have been operating off of the same tower,
it appears as though two separate temporary fixes will be required
to get both of these stations back on the air.

"We have a couple different options for towers," said Gleich who had
worked long into the night after the incident to come up with ways
to resume radio broadcasts. As of 9:30 a.m. today, a final decision
had not been made.

Gleich said that 93.7 FM should be back on the air within a week to
10 days. Its partner station, 1450 AM, will likely be off a little
longer, but should be returning with classic country music in about
two weeks. These temporary fixes will allow the two stations to
operate until a permanent replacement can be found for the downed
tower