Wind topples Stonewall Mountain radio tower

The high winds that hit the Lincoln area Tuesday took a toll on the large radio antenna atop Stonewall Mountain, toppling the upper half structure and affecting radio communications around the Upper Blackfoot.

Charlie Gilmore, the Communication systems manager with the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office, said the combination of ice loading and the high winds that buffet the top of Stonewall Mountain likely led to the collapse of the top section of the radio tower.

Lincoln Fire Chief Zach Muse said he first noticed an issue with communications Tuesday, and further investigation by Gilmore revealed the collapse.

In the past, falling chunks of ice have taken out coaxial cables on the tower, leading to communication issues. That's what Gilmore thought he might find, but it turned out to be a little more complicated. "We went up and were flying along; I looked down and I said, 'I think I see the problem.'"

The building at the base of the tower that houses radio equipment was also damaged when the broken section of the antenna landed on it and put a hole in the roof. Gilmore said his priority is to repair the damaged building to protect the equipment inside but doesn't yet have a timeline on repairing the tower itself since they are still working though the logistics.

"Hopefully sooner than later," he said, adding that some of the equipment on the lower portion of the tower is still working.

The damage has affected communication and paging for local and county emergency services as well as some state and federal agencies, but Gilmore said the Stonewall tower is just one site in a network of communication towers and repeaters.

Muse said the repeater at Granite Butte will be the go-to for radio communication by emergency services in the area until the Stonewall antenna can be repaired.

"That'll have us, the sheriffs department, public works, EMS," he said. "It'll be crowded, but we've done it before."

The radio tower on Stonewall Mountain was installed as part of a 2006 project to upgrade the radio system in Lewis and Clark County with a digital communications system and to fill the gaps in coverage around Lincoln and Augusta.