Five Arrested in Western Kentucky University Fire

It will cost more than $1.3 million to repair Western Kentucky University’s Cherry Hall, which was damaged by an arson fire April 23.
Western’s President Gary Ransdell said the university has about half the money it needs from its insurer and is working toward obtaining the rest.

“I believe that between our insurance and the state’s, it will be covered,” he said.

The university may also see if it can get money from restitution payments through the criminal court system. Four teenagers were charged in Bowling Green, Ky. with arson in connection with the fire.

The teens, all 15 and all from Bowling Green, knew each other and participated in varying ways in setting the fires, Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Cohron said.

Work on the interactive classroom and offices damaged in the fire should be complete by August, Ransdell said.