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Buchanan carnival ride accident results in minor injuries - Roanoke.com.
An accident involving a ride at a Buchanan carnival Monday night was caused when a bracket holding up a car broke and allowed the car to plummet 15 to 20 feet with three teenagers on board.
The ride, called the Octopus, had been inspected and approved for use. The inspector, Neil Holland, today said the place where the break occurred would not have been visible during an inspection unless the ride had been dismantled.
“I’ve never heard of one breaking like this,” he said. “You can tell it’s from wear.”
It was a clean break with no sign of rust that would indicate the metal had previously cracked, Holland said.
The ride will remain closed for the duration of the fair.
“You don’t ever know,” said Randy “Red” Roach, owner of Magic Midway, the Georgia company that owns the rides. “It’s our first accident here in 30 years.”
One of the three teenagers involved in the accident, 14-year-old Dustin Young of Buchanan, was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, including a bump to the head and numerous bruises on his body and arms. He was treated and released Monday night.
“It was the best ride,” Young said today.
His mother, who hadn’t been with him at the carnival Monday night, brought him back to the site today. “It’s kind of like wrecking a car,” Cynthia Blankenship said. “You’ve got to go back and look.”
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State Fair Grandstand tickets go on sale Wednesday - WMBF News | Myrtle Beach/Florence,SC | News, Weather and Sports-.
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - The South Carolina State Fair 2009 Pepsi Grandstand tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10:00am.
Five thousand reserved seats will be available for each show. Ticket prices will range from $15-$25. Discount fair admission tickets as well as ride vouchers can also be purchased online starting Wednesday.
There will also be a concert special of $1 for all reserved seats to see The Charlie Daniels Band on Sunday, October 18.
The 2009 SC State Fair Pepsi Grandstand Lineup is as follows:
*
Friday, October 16 - Toby Mac
* Saturday, October 17 - David Cook
* Sunday, October 18 - The Charlie Daniels Band
* Monday, October 19 - Nat & Alex Wolff*
* Wednesday, October 21 - Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman
* Friday, October 23 - Montgomery Gentry
* Saturday, October 24 - Eric Benet
* Sunday, October 25 - "Shag-A-Fair" with The Fantastic Shakers
*Replaces Corbin Bleu who canceled his fall concert tour. Nat & Alex Wolff are members of the Naked Brothers Band on Nickelodeon.
The 2009 South Carolina State Fair runs October 14-25th.
For more information visit www.SCStateFair.org or call Nancy Smith at (803) 799-3387 ext 16.
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Iowa fair plans Michael Jackson butter statue - San Jose Mercury News.
DES MOINES, Iowa—The Iowa State Fair plans a tribute to Michael Jackson—in butter.
The Iowa State Fair is known for its yearly butter cow. Fair organizers announced Tuesday that this year they would also spotlight a statue of late pop music icon Michael Jackson made from butter. Jackson died Thursday at age 50.
Butter sculptor Sarah Pratt of West Des Moines will make the Jackson piece. Both the butter cow, this year a jersey cow, and the Jackson sculpture will be on display in a 40-degree cooler throughout the Iowa State Fair from August 13-23 in Des Moines.
Fair organizers say Michael Jackson gave two performances with the Jackson Five at the Iowa State Fair in 1971
Tradition continues at Fulton County Fair - Canton, IL - Canton Daily Ledger.
"We are continuing the tradition of great county fairs," said Hancil Miller during the annual press party announcing the 104th Fulton County Fair.
"The schedule is the same as last year, and we are trying to keep the costs down," Miller noted, commenting that funding was down from the state. Adding to this year's expense was the building of a new goat barn, replacing one that had been at the site for at least 70 years. "The cost of repairs was half of what a new barn would cost and it was too old for insurance," Miller explained.
But despite these challenges, Miller was still enthusiastic about people coming to the fair, noting the price of admission had not been raised to help people dealing with the uncertain economy.
"Everybody come and stay all day," Miller invited area residents. "Enjoy the fun, the races, the motocross, the queen pageant."
This year nine young ladies are vying for the crown which will be relinquished by 2008 Miss Fulton County Fair Queen Jamie Linville.
"This year has gone by so fast I can't believe it," Linvlle said. "The highlight was definitely the state pageant. I can't even begin to explain what I got to do."
Some of those "unbelievable" things included a number of firsts — working with sheep and cows, judging a beef cook-off and a lip sync contest, and riding a motorcycle.
Still Linville had time to give some advice to this year's contestants.
"Be confident, be yourself. Don't worry about what other people think. Get up there and have fun."
Linville thanked those who helped make her year so successful, beginning with her parents "for always being there." She also thanked Melinda Evers, the Fulton County pageant coordinator. "You couldn't ask for a better pageant head," said Linville.
In addition, Linville thanked her sponsors Rick and Connie Collins ("Without them I wouldn't be here.")
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Join Farm Bureau at Cayuga County Fair - CNY Farms Blog.
Weedsport, NY -- The Cayuga County Farm Bureau will raffle a free yearlong membership in Farm Bureau at the Cayuga County Fair, July 2-5 at the fairgrounds in Weedsport.
Visit the Cayuga County Farm Bureau booth in the Grange Building, and enter for a chance to win a year's membership in New York Farm Bureau, a volunteer-driven organization that promotes public policy on behalf of agriculture.
There are close to 30,000 members of New York Farm Bureau.
Recently, the Cayuga County Farm Bureau provided story book readers to elementary school classrooms around the county on National Agricultural Literacy Day, and provided funds for agricultural education displays at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum in Auburn.
The Cayuga County dairy princesses will serve dairy products at the Cayuga County Farm Bureau booth, at different times during the fair. For more information about Farm Bureau, visit this Web site.
For information about the Cayuga County Fair, visit go to this Web site.
Fishing rodeo a catch for all - al.com.
Billed as the largest free fishing rodeo in the country with an average of 1,600 fishermen competing in saltwater and freshwater categories annually, the 61st Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo begins its four-day run at one minute after midnight Thursday at Point Cadet in Biloxi.
The rodeo is considered unique because saltwater and freshwater fishermen are weighing in on the same scales, but weighmaster Mark Wright said there are a couple of other things that make it different.
"The rodeo, from its inception, has been designed to cater to all levels of people those who fish and those who don't," Wright said. "Even though as a coastal state we understand that saltwater fishing is our bread and butter, we want this rodeo to showcase everything a coastal state has to offer in the way of saltwater and freshwater fishing. It's for everyone and the fact it's grown by leaps and bounds in the level of prizes and number of fishermen proves that."
It takes place in the middle of a carnival midway, and Wright said there are several tournaments within the tourney that always create good drama at the scales.
The estimated prize package is worth more than $40,000, said prize chairman Ree Elliot.
Over the past decade, Wright also said the rodeo has become a source for marine research data collection for local, state and federal institutions.
Carnival ride collapses in Buchanan - WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville |.
A scary moment Monday night at a carnival in Botetourt County with a minor ride accident.
It happened around 9 p.m. at a street carnival in downtown Buchanan.
Authorities say a child and two young teens were on the "Octopus" ride, and while it was coming to a stop, a support gave way causing the car to drop a few feet.
One of the occupants suffered a bump on the head. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
The Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department says all the rides were inspected and deemed fit for operation before the carnival opened for business on Friday.
Meanwhile, the "Octopus" ride will remain out of service until a thorough investigation and repairs to the ride can be completed.
Pleasanton Weekly : County fair opens tomorrow with Neverland ride a top children's feature.
The Alameda County Fair opens tomorrow with thousands of children and adults heading to the fairgrounds to watch the horse races and take a spin on carnival rides.
But one ride in particular is certain to garner a lot of attention. The Balloon Samba, located in the children's area, used to call Neverland Ranch home.
It's owned by Bay Area-based Butler Amusements, which has roughly 60 rides at the fair. Earl "Butch" Butler said he purchased five amusement rides from Michael Jackson last September.
Butler first met the pop icon, whose death Thursday shocked millions of fans around the world, years prior and has been to Jackson's sprawling Santa Barbara County estate half a dozen times. Neverland, built around the Peter Pan theme, is something Butler said you have to see to believe--a magical wonderland of sorts.
"He had a train and train station just like the one in Disneyland," Butler said. "It's the most gorgeous thing I've seen. It's even better than Disneyland."
Aside from the Balloon Samba, which mimics a hot air balloon ride, Butler also owns a ride from Neverland Ranch that's currently displayed at the Coney Island fair in New York and three rides that are being restored.
"I have a scooter bumper car of his that has his picture all over it and on the cars, they have the moon insignia with the little boy sitting on the moon, built especially for him," he said. "He had it enclosed and inside were mirrors, black lights and music. When you're in there, it's like you're in another world."
Butler said he's getting ready to put that ride up for sale on eBay.
Jackson was the consummate performer in every aspect of his life and always aimed to please, Butler said of his encounters with the singer. He remembers one time he was visiting when Jackson arranged for one of his worker's sons to meet an idol.
"He had a gate guard whose son told him Kobe Bryant was his favorite player," Butler said. "Well, Michael gets on the phone, calls up Kobe and the next day, he was there and he played basketball with the kid and gave him a shirt and everything.
"He would go out of his way to make people happy," he added.
Aside from taking children on his amusement rides, Jackson also encouraged them to watch movies in a custom-built 49-seat movie theater. Butler said there were two enclosed areas with hospital beds and oxygen tanks suited for children with illnesses.
"He had a candy counter there and he would let the kids have all the candy they wanted," Butler said.
Since Jackson's death, it's unclear what will become of Neverland Ranch, which was at one point in jeopardy of being sold and possibly torn down, but Butler said he hopes it will be preserved for the public to see.
"This really needs to stay like it is," he said. "It's an amusement park and it could be a shrine. I saw it as a place people would want to come and see because it's kind of a mystery spot. It's gorgeous what he had done and the money he spent."
"I just wish he could have lived up to his potential because I couldn't think of anyone who was more talented," Butler added.
Butler, who lives in San Jose, started Butler Amusements 38 years ago with his father and he said it is now the largest show in the West with more than 135 rides. His peak time of the year is coming up later this summer when he'll have rides featured at three state fairs--California, Washington and Idaho.
The Balloon Samba is operating in the children's section of the carnival rides and Butler said a sign has been put up to let visitors know it was an original to Neverland Ranch.
"I won't be surprised if people bring a lot of memorial stuff like little teddy bears or flowers," he said. "And I'll feel better that they do."
For information about the fair, visit www.alamedacountyfair.com
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