​BLYTHEVILLE, AR - The 9th Annual Southern Bancorp Hope Concert, presented by Mississippi County Electric Cooperative raised over $12,000 for St Jude Children's Research Hospital Friday night at the Holiday Inn.

The annual concert featured country music superstar James Otto, as well as David Adam Byrnes and local favorite Rooster Blue.

"This was a great kick-off for the St Jude Radio/Cablethon coming up this next Friday," according to Keith Michaels, program director for Thunder Country 96.3 FM. The radiothon was started 40 years ago with Mr. Sudbury and original members of the ESA and has raised millions of dollars for the hospital since then. As the annual fundraiser grew, it has expanded into a Radio/Cablethon, which includes broadcast on Ritter Cable. The cablethon has also grown in facility needs with Southern Bancorp being home to the broadcast for several years. It was then moved to the Ritz Theater for a couple of years and now originates from the Blytheville High School auditorium.

"We encourage everyone to listen and to donate this Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thunder Country," said Michaels. "Then Saturday, listen and watch online or on Tubetown on Ritter Cable from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m."

You can also donate online using this link: https://www.stjude.org/donate/country-cares.html?sc_cid=ptn77345&source_code=ORQKHLSII20

The 38th Annual ESA St Jude Country Cares For Kids Radio/Cablethon raised $207,892 during the event on March 2 and March 3, 2018. Thanks to Thunder Country 96.3 and to Ritter Communications for airing the Radio/Cablethon and for getting it out worldwide on both video and audio streams this year.

The total each year is a combination of events like the annual golf tournament, the ESA Radio/Cablethon and the Hope Concert. Wade Hayes and David Adam Byrnes were our special guests for the 7th Annual Southern Bancorp Hope Concert, presented by Mississippi County Electric Cooperative.

​Thank you to Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Southern Bancorp, David Adam Byrnes and Wade Hayes for helping us have another amazing Hope Concert. And a special thanks to everyone that came out to the show. Because of you and your generosity, we raised over $14,000 for the kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

"If you missed last nights Hope concert you missed a heck of a good time for a worthy cause. Sammy Williams and the guys from his auction did an outstanding job and the entertainment was top notch. David Adam Byrnes, Wade Hayes and Charles Moody kept the toes tapping and booties shaking," according to Michael Ham, who is not only the husband of Dana Ham from Sudbury Broadcasting Group, but is also part of the team at MCEC.

"There are so many people who pull together to make this happen I could not name everyone but the most important are the wonderful people who buy tickets and show up to support the effort to raise money for St. Jude. I am honored to be able to help and align myself with such great people."

 Bob Logan, the morning show host on KHLS Thunder Country 96.3 FM in Blytheville, Arkansas, was honored by the ESA Sorority as their Man of the Year at the 36th Annual ESA St Jude Country Cares For Kids Radio Cablethon on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Other highlights of Logan's career include interviewing Johnny Cash and hosting a portion of the Grand Ole Opry with Chuck Wilder and Steve Southard. "I have been helping with St Jude since 1986 and have loved every minute of it," said Logan. "Thanks to the ladies of ESA for the award. I'm sure there are a lot more deserving candidates then me.. I'm just glad to be a part of the event." The event raised $223,672 for St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

From The Blytheville Courier News - The Southern Bancorp 5th Annual Hope Concert raised an estimated $22,500 for St. Jude Children's Hospital Friday night at the Blytheville Holiday Inn.Craig Wayne Boyd, winner of NBC's The Voice, headlined the event, which was presented by Mississippi County Electric Cooperative.
The event also included an auction that raised a significant amount for St. Jude.
The big ticket item was a guitar autographed by some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Phil and April Dever had the winning bid of $12,000 on the guitar signed by Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins, Maddie and Tae, Sam Hunt and Clare Dunn.

SEE MORE PICS FROM THE CONCERT