By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green residents and businesses are being asked to help their namesake to the south after a tornado leveled areas of the city over the weekend.
At least 15 people were killed in Warren County, home to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Among those were seven children, and 11 residents of the same street in Bowling Green.
The 150 mph winds destroyed or damaged an estimated 500 homes and 100 businesses.
“I was watching the news accounts of tornadoes in Kentucky over the weekend,” Mayor Mike Aspacher said. “I was just amazed at the level of damage. It’s hard to comprehend how people in those communities are coping with that kind of damage.”
Aspacher immediately thought about the connection between the two Bowling Greens – with our city reportedly being named in the mid-1800s by a retired postal worker who had once delivered mail in Bowling Green, Kentucky, 401 miles to the south. Aspacher talked over the possibility of raising funds for the battered Bowling Green with his mayoral predecessor, Dick Edwards, who was supportive of the idea.
So the mayor and the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce are seeking monetary donations to provide financial assistance to the residents of Bowling Green, Kentucky, following last week’s devastating tornadoes.
“This type of disaster requires a community response and we feel a strong connection to our “sister” city sharing our name – Bowling Green. Let’s rally around our namesake community and provide them with our support to help them get back on their feet,” Aspacher said.
Monetary donations received will be sent to the Bowling Green, Kentucky, Chamber of Commerce to help alleviate some of the financial impacts to their residents. Aspacher and the Chamber will be at the Bowling Green Fire Station located at 1060 Pearl St. on Friday, Dec. 17, between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m., to accept monetary donations from those wishing to help. Monetary donations may also be dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce at 217 S. Church St. any time after that until 5 p.m. on Friday.
Checks should be made payable to the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce. Those who are not able to donate in person are encouraged to visit the website established by the Bowling Green, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for tornado relief – https://www.bgchamber.com/sckstrong/.
