For The Herald

KAUS-US Country 99.9 FM and Operation Troop Aid have joined forces with area businesses to turn Torge’s Live into a concert venue of Nashville’s Top Headliners. The event is an interactive benefit for our own deployed U.S. troops.

The concert, set for Saturday, Sept. 18, will feature three of Nashville’s national recording artists; Sammy Sadler, Jonalee White and Cody McCarver, whose hits include; “Heart Shaped Like Texas”, “Naked As Fools” and “I’m America”, this will be an evening of non-stop hits.

A $12 admission charge to the concert will benefit our troops with 100 percent going straight to Troop Aide which will send care packages to the troops.

Following the Headliners, 32 Below will perform at Torge’s Live. 32 Below is also a Nashville recording artist and is known for its country-rock style of music.

Local business will be have food, beverages, goods and displays available for show goers which runs at 3 to 7 p.m. outdoors at Torge’s Live, located near I-90 at the Fourth Street Exit in Austin. Gates open at 2 p.m.. Parking is plentiful and free.

“It is certainly a privilege and an honor to be selected as a host of this event, Austin is only one of twelve communities across the Midwest selected to host this event. We have many sons, daughters, husbands and wives overseas right now from our area and this is just one way of making a difference and showing our gratitude,” said KAUS Station Manager Bob Mithuen.

A care package typically contains a 120-minute phone card, treats such as beef jerky, candy, and granola bars, moist wipes, hand sanitizer, a thank you card, and one or more letters from school children. Including the cost of shipping and handling, one care package represents about $40.

“Operation Troop Aid supports America’s finest,” said the organization’s founder, Mark Woods, a 21-year Navy veteran. “They deserve our very best effort and continual improvement of the level of support we provide.”

Woods founded Operation Troop Aid after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Earlier that year, during one of his six major deployments, he had been assigned to coordinate a shipboard concert by recording artist Chad Brock. When country legend Garth Brooks sought to present a shipboard concert after 9-11, Woods was named assistant coordinator for the nationally televised event. Drawing on those experiences and his degrees in business administration and operations management, Woods developed Operation Troop Aid as a concert production company to fund its work on behalf of active and returning troops. Woods retired from military service in 2008.

The “We America Tour” series of concerts are presented by Austin’s own country radio station KAUS US-99.9, for additional information contact General Manager, Bob Mithuen at (507) 437-7666 or rmithuen@austin.threeeagles.com.