Saturday's SLHD crowd 'biggest ever seen'
By CYNTHIA AUKERMAN
News-Gazette reporter
Bill Bruggeman, chairman of the State Line Heritage Days Committee, said Saturday's crowd for the Spike and the Bulldogs performances was the biggest he's ever seen.
"He's our anchor, our clean-up batter, our ace-in-the-hole," Bruggeman said. "It was so crowded you couldn't even walk down the block of refreshment stands. And we've signed him for next year."
Elvis tribute artist Dwight Isenhower wasn't as lucky. Storms Friday night interrupted both of his performances. The first wave soaked the big crowd and blew down tents and lawn chairs. Shelly and Tim King opened the doors of her store, The Corner Cupboard, and the dripping crowd poured into the store's aisles.
Isenhower sought shelter in the cooler at nearby Jo's Corner Florist because he was hot from the weather and his performance efforts. After a delay of 30 minutes or so, the crowd and Isenhower came back for the rest of his first program, which was the music of the "young" Elvis.
The second program featured the older Elvis wearing the elaborate bejeweled jump suits. That program was also interrupted by a storm, which packed a lot of lightning.
Bruggeman said, "It's a real tribute to Dwight that he stood up out there and tried to finish. Many bands would have left at the first drop of rain or gust of wind."
When Bruggeman complimented Icenhower on his effort to keep the show going, Icenhower said, "That's the way Elvis would have done it."
Icenhower was accompanied by several members of his fan club, who were wearing shirts blazoned with "Icenhower for President," a play-on-words with the name of President Dwight Eisenhower.
This year SLHD featured a series of amusements instead of a carnival, amusements such as a power jump, laser tag, the Titanic and the climbing wall, as well as smaller activities for younger children. Bruggeman said that substitution seemed to find favor with many people who spoke to him about how the area wasn't as noisy for the melodrama and other performances under the Big Tent. Also, many parents told Bruggeman they thought the amusements were safer than the carnival rides.
In the past the carnival rides have been a source of income for the SLHD committee. Bruggeman said he thinks the money generated by the amusements would have been about the same as for a carnival if it hadn't been for the rain wiping things out Friday night.
Both police departments reported there were no incidents associated with SLHD. Saturday's parade came off without a hitch in glorious sunshine with a welcome breeze.
In a final tribute to SLHD, several people sought out Bruggeman Saturday night to say they wished the event wasn't over, that they wished it could go on for a few more days.
The SLHD committee has asked Bruggeman to say on as chairman for next year, which would be his fourth year in that slot, and he said he probably will. But the committee can always use some new blood. It will be meeting at 6 p.m., Tuesday, September 9 in the Community Room to evaluate this year's festival. Anyone who has any suggestions is welcome to attend that meeting or relay their thoughts to committee members.
