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The freedom celebrated this Independence Day holiday not only gives Americans the right to speak their mind, it also affords the same to talk radio owner Harry Grothjahn.

The radio station owner, known to broadcast Blount County Commission meetings and give county residents a voice on the airwaves each day, will celebrate his 15th year at the reins of Truth Radio 1470 AM.

Grothjahn took the reins just after July 4, 1995. After a few years, he said he started calling it Truth Radio because of his efforts to make sure the truth is told.

"We are pursuing the truth, but we don't always succeed," he said.

The radio station is now struggling to get its programming on the air, thanks to severe thunderstorms that hit the area on June 17. Lightning apparently hit the building's chimney, reducing half of it to a big pile of bricks.

Grothjahn said the station sustained significant damage to much of the studio's electronic equipment.

"The lightning came through the Charter cable line and anything connected to the Internet was damaged," Grothjahn said, "It was $70,000 worth of electronic equipment." Grothjahn said he had been outside just prior to the storm, working on the sign out front. As it blew in from the northwest, he stowed the aluminum stepladder, then went into the radio station. Shortly thereafter, he remembers hearing "this horrendous explosion" that shook the building.

Upon investigation, Grothjahn discovered the lightning storm had thrown bricks from the chimney all over, and it was half the size that it had been before the storm. He even found several bricks about 250 feet away in the road. The wind drove other bricks onto the roof, poking holes that let in rain. At one point, water poured from the light fixtures in the building.

Equipment in shambles

Blount County Fire Department personnel helped Grothjahn spread out tarps that protected other equipment. While the fire department worked on the studio, Grothjahn said he told them he smelled something electrical burning. It wasn't until a day later that he discovered the electronics equipment in shambles.

Two electrical surge protectors were destroyed in the storm, as well as computers, CD and tape players and two satellites, among others. He recalls putting a wastebasket under one of the streams of water coming from the ceiling.

"Each time it rains, more leaks develop," Grothjahn said.

Undaunted, Grothjahn and his employees switched to the older satellite the storm spared, and resumed broadcasting at 1,000 watts. Instead of using the high-tech boards, Grothjahn and his crew currently use the sound boards he generally takes to ballgames for play-by-play action. The quality isn't quite as good, but he is transmitting.

"I've had some reports from Fountain City that it is not quite as loud, but they are still able to get it," he said.

Several days after the storm Grothjahn was broadcasting an Overcomers class on the radio, when he mentioned his need for an electrician with experience with storm damage. Not long after the program, an electrician called him and then arrived at the station just in time to help Grothjahn talk with the insurance adjustors regarding the electronics damage. A separate insurer covered the roof.

The replacement cost is higher because the station used analog equipment, which is no longer available. The replacement equipment must be digital.

Wait and see

Now, Grothjahn must wait to see what the insurance companies plan to do. With the deductible set at $3,000 for the electronic equipment, he hopes the community might help him monetarily. Linda King, with Citizens for Blount County's Future, recently wrote a letter to the editor in The Daily Times requesting donations for the radio station.

While he waits, Grothjahn continues to give residents in Blount and Knox counties what he considers the truth. Most recently, he twice played a streaming audio of 10 of 21 county commissioners reading conflict of interest statements at a recent meeting -- in the morning and evening -- so everyone would get an opportunity to hear it. At one time he broadcast entire meetings.

Grothjahn's wife Freida, son John, daughter Christi and grandchildren Braden and Cory have helped with voice-overs and other chores at the studio. He employs two part-time engineers and a couple of crew members who handle the sports announcing.

Donations may be mailed to Harry Grothjahn at WBCR Radio 1470 AM, P.O. Box 130, Alcoa, TN 37701.