KY Radio: Arrest Made In Downing Of Station Tower

Classic Hits WFXY 1490 AM / W252EE 98.3 FM in Middlesboro, KY remains off the air and the station tower was knocked down over the weekend.  Middlesboro is located about 90-miles north of Knoxville, TN

However, an arrest was made Monday after police tracked a piece of evidence belonging to a Dodge truck matched that of a neighboring vehicle of the radio tower site. The owner of the truck eventually admitted to investigating officers that he had hit the guy wires that had held the tower up, causing it to topple.

Frank Smith

The man was arrested on charges of criminal mischief  and failure to report a traffic accident.

Owner Frank Smith told WATE-TV he knew something was wrong Sunday afternoon around 3:45 when his station went off the air.

"It was devastating soon as I seen the tower on the ground with no insurance, and it's hard to insure something like this, this is my livelihood," Smith said.

Smith is expecting a permanent fix to take several months. Right now, they're streaming online.

"We're going to temporarily try to get it back up just to cover the city of license and go from there. It's going to be an expense," he said.

An estimate - around $75,000.