As many of you know, I am a born & bred Hoosier, so the IN State Fair stage collapse tragedy hits especially close to home.  I have stood right there and watched concerts in that area where people lost their lives.  I have friends who were at the concert, and friends who lost people close to them because of those high winds.  I’ve read many posts and comments from people wanting to place blame, or wondering why fans just didn’t “take cover because it was obvious a storm was coming”.  My high school friend, Steve Pierson from WWBL, was there, and maybe after reading his account, you’ll see just how unexpected that day’s events were to everyone.

In Steve’s words: “I was in Sec 8 row 19 in the grandstand. Sara Bareilles did her part of the show and it was nice outside, sunshine, little breeze, not too hot. They set up the stage for Sugarland. Off in the distance you could see some dark clouds moving in. After they were done setting up the stage, an announcer came to the stage (Hank FM 97.1 WLHK) and said that Sugarland was about to take the stage and there is a storm in the distance. They were going to try and start the show and if it were to start raining, then everyone could take cover in the Pepsi Coliseum and other buildings, then when the rain passed, they would start the show again. He walked off the stage and in less then 2 min, the winds came in and sand was everywhere, I thought immediately – tornado! People were starting to panic and running for the exits. It was too full to go anywhere so I threw myself over 2 of the people that were with me and hoped for the best because I was truly scared!! All of a sudden, the wind picked up even more and as we are looking forward, you see the top of the stage where the tarp is flip up, the stage swayed a little left then just went to the right and down forward! Then EVERYONE panicked and I thought, we have to get going before this grandstand goes down too! It was metal bleachers and just the scary thought of the stage blowing down made you feel like it could happen to the grandstand too! I felt for the first time in my life, I was a goner! We grabbed firmly and headed down the stairs to get to safety in the buildings! People were in a frenzy! The police, fire trucks, ambulances were there instantly! We got to the buildings and little girls were crying because they couldn’t find their parents so we helped them find them, then there was a man in a wheel chair and he couldn’t get through so we got him inside. The lightening and rain picked up for a few minutes then let up so we though we would head to the vehicles. We had to walk that direction towards the stage and around to get to it. We met the triage center and it was horrible!! I saw a lady with her foot upside down, and another with a missing limb, we got around to the tunnels and got across to where our vehicles were and saw the downed stage! I can’t imagine how crazy 9-11-01 must have been if this was only a portion of that because this was crazy, scary!! There were 4 light people in the top of the stage when it went down. They reported there were 2 people crushed by the large hanging speakers that came down. There was a doctor that had been in the front row who said on television that there was a 3 or 4 year old girl beside him and he got out of the way but she didn’t and he had to stop the bleeding of her compound fractured arm! I feel for the families of the lost and hurt! The youngest who didn’t make it was only 23 from Fort Wayne! I was horrified in the Grandstand but can’t even imagine what the people near the stage went through!”

Another friend reports that one of the victims, the spotlight operator Nathan Byrd, was a single fahter of two teenagers.  The family is struggling to find money for the funeral, for the kids to have clothes to wear to the funeral, and money for school clothes and supplies.  If there is any way you can help this family, the local Stagehand Union has set up a fund for your donations:

IATSE LOCAL 30
ATTN:NATHAN BYRD FAMILY
1407 EAST RIVERSIDE DRIVE
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46202-2037

A State Fair Remberance Fund has also been set up to accept donations to help the families of those killed and those injured.  Donations can be made online here.

I know there are lots of causes, and unfortunately lately there have been more than a few tragedies that have needed our donations.  But if you cannot make a monetary donation,  there’s still one thing you can do…pray.

To my beloved Hoosiers, my heart aches for you all.  Your strength will unite you and get you thru this terrifying event…just know you’re in our thoughts and prayers.

xoxo
-Charley

The annual July 4th Celebration will be held Monday at Fort Bragg’s Main Post Parade Field.  Activities include two country acts – Charlie Daniels and Little Big Town; parachute freefall demonstrations; our popular flag ceremony; fireworks; and food and beverages.  Pets, glass bottles, and BBQ grills are not allowed.  All tents and shelters must be erected in the designated area, and space is limited. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early due to heavy traffic flow.  The event is free and open to the public.  For information call (910) 396-9126.  (Click here to view the event poster. )

The July 4th Celebration was voted one of the top 20 events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society!  Additionally, Fort Bragg’s Fireworks made America’s Bucket List for 2011!  Click here to read more about the bucket list.

He’s played with the likes of Johnny & June, Charlie Daniels, and Hank Williams Jr.  He’s written songs for Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry.  He’s even played for the President.  And he’s only 19 years old!!

His name is Hunter Hayes, and he scored the opening slot on one of the biggest concert tours of the summer of 2011, the Speak Now Tour with Taylor Swift, so I’m sure you’ll be hearing his name alot in the coming months.  Hunter started playing a toy accordian at age 2, and hasn’t stopped since.  He learned by ear how to play keyboards, guitar, drums and more, and plays them ALL on his debut single, “Storm Warning”!  Some may be quick to discount Hunter because of his cute looks and young age, but his songwriting and vocals show a wisdom well beyond his 19 years.  Plus, if you have a teenage daughter that you’re trying to sway to Country music, just show her this video…she will be in love!

Find out more about Hunter at www.hunterhayes.com, and listen for his fresh Wolf track, Storm Warning, right here on The Wolf!

xoxo
-Charley

(Note:  We are lucky here at the Wolf to get the jump on hearing new artists, and having them come visit the radio station before they hit the “mainstream”.  When I hear someone I think is “on their way”, I’ll let you guys know!  I love to discover new artists, and if you do too, then you’ll enjoy this feature!  And if you know of a new artist that you think deserves attention, please let me know!)

I first heard of Jason Sturgeon thru friends from “back home” in Indiana on Facebook.  When I heard there was a talented Country singer from the “next town over”, I had to check him out!  Jason grew up in Petersburg, IN, population 35oo, and just 13 miles down the road from where I grew up.  There’s not much in that part of Indiana except cornfields and cows, and weekends are spent with good friends, family, and good music.  That’s how Jason started singing…entertaining his family for quarters!

When Jason decided to immerse himself in a music career, he hooked up with Dane Clark  (a member of the band of another famous Indiana boy, John Mellencamp).  Jason learned from Dane & his fellow musicians’ insight and experience, and the resulting album is called, That’s Me. You can definitely hear the Mellencamp influence on my favorite track, “Simple Life”!

Jason played last month at Johnny & June’s, and stopped by the Wolf for an interview with me.  Check it out here http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?… and listen for an acoustic performance of his latest single, “The Cover” at the end!  Get more info on Jason at www.jasonsturgeonmusic.com  and keep an eye on the concert calendar for the next time he rolls thru town.

xoxo
-Charley

A message from Leanne:

As you may or may not be aware, my mother and her sister along with at least two of their aunts all suffered and died as a result of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. This is the cruelest of all diseases because THERE ARE NO SURVIVORS, only what I call “the long goodbye” as you helplessly watch your loved one slide slowly into oblivion.

Alzheimer’s disease is the single largest unaddressed public health threat facing the nation today. As many as 5.3.million Americans are living with the disease and nearly 11 million are acting as caregivers.

We have to unite now to help end Alzheimer’s. To do my part, I’m participating in the 2011 Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, an event that raises awareness and funds to advance care, support and research.

The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s is about to skyrocket. Baby Boomers are approaching the age of 65, placing this generation at a greater risk for developing this devastating disease.

The end of Alzheimer’s starts here – with a gift from you. Please consider supporting my efforts with a donation or by joining my team. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s happens Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 10am in Greensboro’s Center City Park.

“The Daily Show” brought a camel to the protests in Madison, Wisconsin…. presumably to help make fun of the Cairo/Madison comparisons.

The gag didn’t turn out so well:

Who knew that an animal indigenous to the Middle East couldn’t walk on snow and ice in the Midwest?

Local firefighters eventually rescued the camel.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Daily Show didn’t use any footage of the camel in its Tuesday night broadcast.

Author unknown (borrowed from “Arizona Humor”)

After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager teaching prospect said:

“Let me see if I’ve got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning. And I’m supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their T shirt messages and dress habits.

You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self esteem. You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, and fair play, how and where to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job. I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, offer advice, write letters of recommendation for student employment and scholarships, encourage respect for the cultural diversity of others, and, oh yeah, always make sure that I give the girls in my class 50 percent of my attention.

My contract requires me to work on my own time after school and evenings grading papers. Also, I must spend my summer vacation at my own expense, working toward advance certification and a Master’s degree. And on my own time you want me to attend committee and faculty meetings, PTA meetings, and participate in staff development training. I am to be a paragon of virtue, larger than life, such that my very presence will awe my students into being obedient and respectful of authority. And I am to pledge allegiance to family values and this current administration.

You want me to incorporate technology into the learning experience, monitor web sites, and relate personally with each student. That includes deciding who might be potentially dangerous and/or liable to commit a crime in school. I am to make sure all students pass the state mandatory exams, even those who don’t come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments. Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental or physical handicap. And I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, and a big smile AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps!

You want me to do all of this, and you expect me NOT TO PRAY?”

© Wake Up With the Wolf Show – 93.1 the Wolf – WPAW.  Please share this with your friends!

My thoughts exactly!! Love this guy! (his name is Louis C.K., by the way)
xoxo
-Charley

A 70-year-old woman was the victim of apparent road rage over the weekend at Walkertown Shopping Center when another woman tried repeatedly to run over the elderly lady. Forsyth County deputies are looking for a Black Ford Escort with a North Carolina license plate. The driver is described as a white woman with brown hair, age 25 to 30.

If you have any information that might help investigators find the person responsible, please contact the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

Thanks to WXII-TV for the video and detailed story.  To watch, click here.