Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 5, 1990 TAG: 9006050329
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And more than 40 festival-goers were arrested over the past two weekends on charges such as being drunk in public, assault, theft and property damage, police said.
Although police and hospital officials said the number of incidents at this year's festival was larger than in previous years, festival Executive Director Wendi Turner questioned that assessment.
"I think we had a very calm year this year compared to others," Turner said Monday. Some disorder is expected whenever there is a large gathering of people, she said.
But as the festival has grown from an art show to an event that offers concerts, shows and other attractions - including beer gardens - some local artists wonder if the change is for the best.
"You have a really different crowd" now than in years past, said Ed Bordett, a Roanoke artist who displayed his silk screens and paintings at the festival.
Saturday night, after Bordett had removed the artwork from his booth, someone stole some clamps from the structure, he said.
Other artists had their exhibit booths damaged, Bordett said, and some attribute the problem to a more rowdy crowd attracted by the festival's new offerings.
While Bordett said he still is enthusiastic about the festival, he wonders if the emphasis has shifted from a community-oriented art show to a money-making event geared to drawing as many people as possible.
"Is it growing into what we really want in our town?" he asked.
Most of the people arrested during the festival were charged with being drunk in public. Other charges and incidents under investigation included carrying concealed weapons, car theft, disorderly conduct and assaulting police officers.
Wanda Ostrander, emergency-room supervisor at Community Hospital, said it seemed as if the hospital treated more festival-related injuries this year than last, although she did not have exact figures.
Ostrander said at least six people were treated Saturday for injuries they apparently received from thrown bottles and rocks.
A police spokesman said a majority of the problems seemed to stem from the beer gardens. But Turner pointed out that many of the incidents happened in areas other than where alcohol was served.
One of the most serious incidents happened the night of May 25 after a concert and fireworks display at Victory Stadium.
Police said a Hardy man was beaten with a tire iron following an argument that started during the concert. A Vinton man has been charged with malicious wounding.
Two police officers also were assaulted as they tried to maintain order during the festival. One officer was spit on by a man who tried to ride away on the officer's motorcycle, police said. The suspect was later charged with assaulting a deputy at the city jail, police said.
Another man was charged with throwing a beer in the face of a police officer who was attempting to arrest him.
Turner said Monday that problems can be anticipated "whenever you get a lot of people in the same place at the same time." But, she said, "I think we had a great festival."
by CNB