The Bright Side: Cort Carpenter concert raises $35K for Nippon victims
Kelso native Cort Carpenter headlined a benefit concert at the Columbia Theater Tuesday night, which raised about $35,000, for the families affected by last week's fatal tank failure at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company.
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Donations from the country concert will go to the Nippon Family Foundation Fund, created by the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Central Labor Council and Longview/Kelso Building Trades Council last week at the Lower Columbia Longshoremen's Federal Credit Union.
On Tuesday, lines stretched from the doors of the theater along Vandercook Way as the community gathered to raise funds for families who lost loved ones, as well as the injured workers.
One of those waiting to get inside the Columbia Theatre was Tony Hill, 68, of Kelso, who came to the benefit concert to lend his support.
"I couldn't do much but could buy a ticket ... so that's what I'm gonna do," he said.
Cort Carpenter
Cort Carpenter performs on Tuesday, June 2, at the Columbia Theatre as part of a fundraiser for the families impacted by the May 26 tank failure at Nippon Dynawave Paper Co.
Also, waiting in line was Lynn Gaultier, 50, who said she has been a 20-year resident of Longview and lives by the mill.
She said she attended the concert to exemplify the message "Longview Strong," seen on a memorial outside the mill and on message boards across town.
"I love the support, I love it, it's amazing," she said about Tuesday's crowd.
John Paul is the owner of KLOG, KUKN and 101-5 The Blitz.
He said the concert took just hours to put together in collaboration with the owner of the local McDonald's, Ben McLaren.
Dakota Robins
Dakota Robins, of Toledo, opened the benefit concert at the Columbia Theatre on Tuesday, June 2, in Longview.
The McLaren family and McDonald's of Longview covered all event expenses and planned to donate an extra $10 for each ticket sold.
Between songs, Carpenter told the audience how he learned of the tragic events that killed 11 people and injured eight.
He was in Kentucky with his wife, scrolling on Facebook, when he saw the reports roughly three hours after the news broke.
"When I saw that, my heart just sank," Carpenter said.
He immediately called his parents, then a friend he said worked at the site.
As the show closed, Carpenter led the crowd in a chant of "Longview strong," drawing strong cheers and applause.
Lines before the show
Attendees wait outside the Columbia Theatre on Tuesday, June 2, before the Longview benefit concert, which raised money for families affected by last week's deadly tank failure at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company.
Benefit concert
Attendees wait on Tuesday, June 1, outside the Columbia Theatre before the Longview benefit concert, which raised money for families affected by last week's deadly tank failure at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company.
Columbia Theater
The marquee on Tuesday, June 2, at the Columbia Theatre, before the Longview benefit concert, which raised money for the families affected by last week's deadly tank failure at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company.
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