Many of you may know about the devastating ice storm that hit at the end of last month in Kentucky. Many areas, including Western Kentucky were hit particularly hard and many people lost power and still haven't gotten it back. Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative in Paducah serves many rural areas in Kentucky. They have over 3000 miles of line and have been overwhelmed trying to get power back to all of their costumers.
Because of that, many electrical workers from several different states have come to Western Kentucky to try and help restore power to the citizens who have lost it.
Sadly, tragedy struck again Tuesday night. While trying to repair a pole in dangerous wet, windy and stormy conditions some electrical workers had a pole snap on them, and fell thirty feet before a 300 lb. transformer fell, striking one.
Thirty-five year old Andy Reichwein, a worker from Minnesota who had come here to help out Jackson Purchase Electrical Cooperative was hospitilized after falling and being struck by the transformer. I am very sad to report that this morning at 8:30, Mr. Reichwein succumbed to the injuries he sustained and passed away in Paducah.
Now, I don't know whether Andy Reichwein was a Republican, Democrat, or an Independent. I don't even know if Mr. Reichwein cared one bit about politics or not. All I know is that he cared enough about fellow Americans who were hurting to travel many hundreds of miles from his home and family to try and use his skills to help people who were living without power, and in many cases without heat that ran off electricity. Because of this, a four-year old girl and her mother in Andover, MN will not be seeing their father and husband again.
My heart goes out to the Reichwein family. This man gave his time to try and help us here, and unfortunately ended up giving his life as well.
A local bank here in Paducah has started a fund to try and help the Reichwein family, particularly his four-year old daughter. I wanted to take some time out to ask everyone to remember the Reichwein family, and if all possible donate some money to the fund for little Alexis Tuscany Reichwein.
You can mail donations to the Reichwein family at:
Alexis Tuscany Reichwein Memorial Fund
555 Jefferson St.
Paducah, Ky 42001
To all of those who have come from all over the country to help us here in Western Kentucky, I can only offer thanks, and undying respect. Yourselves, and Mr. Reichwein have simply demonstrated the best our country has to offer.
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