GRAYSON —
By JOHN FLAVELL
For The Independent
WEST LIBERTY Tornado-ravaged West Liberty received another morale boost Friday when a radio sports show flew University of Kentucky coach John Calipari to town for a fundraiser and a promise that Kentucky won't forget them.
Kentucky Sports Radio played host to the event in the same bank parking lot emergency medical agencies set up a make-shift triage unit on March 2, the night a tornado destroyed the downtown and much of the surrounding area.
The event, which attracted about 400 for the live broadcast, featured a call from head Wildcat football coach Joker Phillips, who told the town he couldn't be with them in person because of practice drills. He went on to wish the Morgan County High School Cougar football team the best before their first scrimmage on the downtown football field, still crowded with workers installing new lights and bleachers.
But the main attraction was Calipari, who took a helicopter tour of the rebuilding efforts before escorting the football team to the stage with the 2012 NCAA National Championship basketball trophy. Calipari has travelled much of the state to bring the trophy to as many fans as possible.
For two hours Calipari shifted between talking to a statewide radio audience about the town's recovery and signing autographs. He even promised to match up to $25,000 for money pledged to WestLibertyRecovery.com, the benefactor of Friday's event. Kentucky Sports Radio host Matt Jones said that took less than 45 minutes to raise $50,000.
Donation calls were still rolling in when the event ended at noon.
To donate: www.WestLibertyRecovery.com will open a West Liberty Long Term Recovery Team. Donations can also be made by calling (606) 743-1080.
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