Local broadcasters, McDonald's host benefit concert for Nippon spill victims

KUKN, KLOG and The Blitz are partnering with McDonald's of Longview and the Columbia Theatre to host a benefit concert for the Nippon Family Foundation Fund 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Country musician Cort Carpenter of Kelso will perform a solo acoustic set.

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Doors are set to open at 6 p.m. at the Columbia Theatre in Longview. Tickets are available for $30 at the door or online at columbiatheatre.com.

All proceeds will support families affected by the May 26 implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. plant in Longview.

Those who are unable to attend but wish to donate can mail in checks payable to the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Labor Council. When donating by check, write "Family Fund Donation" in the memo line.

The McLaren family and McDonald's of Longview are covering all event expenses, KLOG announced in a press release. They also plan to donate an extra $10 for each ticket sold.

Ben McLaren is the owner of McDonald's of Longview.

"This community has been through an incredibly difficult time," said John Paul, Owner and President of KUKN, KLOG, and The Blitz in a press release. "Ben McLaren and I were talking about ways we could help the families affected by this tragedy. We reached out to Cort Carpenter and Kelly Ragsdale at The Columbia Theatre, and within just a few hours, this benefit concert became a reality.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 12:40 PM.