#blamemyroots

[ledenews]

FLASHBACK: The 'Woodstock of Country Music'

(Photos by Bill Burke)The casket cooler. The red wagons. The redneck run. The spray bottles.The tarps. The steak sandwiches and the buckets of greasy French fries.And yes, the medical tents.All became traditions during the course of the 45 years of Jamboree in the Hills, a country music festival that was inspired by Jamboree USA, a weekly radio and stage show based in Wheeling. At the Capitol Theatre, a pair of sold-out shows took place on Saturday evenings with the majority of seats occupied by those who traveled from Canada to the Friendly City in motorcoaches.Those not making the trip to the Northern Panhandle most often listened to AM 1170 WWVA, once a 50,000-watt radio station focused on the Upper Ohio Valley and not nationally syndicated programming as it does today.Jamboree in the Hills was a most unique event when it began as a two-day event in 1977 at Brush Run Park in Belmont County. Not only did several of the biggest country music stars perform on the same stage (Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Tammy Wynette, to name a few, in 1977), but it was outdoors, and the fans were permitted to bring their own food and beverages into the show.“It was amazing to me that so many well-known country stars would perform in there all day long one after another,” said Bill Burke, the photographer who was hired to shoot the event’s official photos between 1977-1982. “The big names would sing during the day or during the night. They would get there, roll on stage, and then get out and head to the next show. That’s what those stars had to do back then.“Sure, there were things about being a photographer at Jamboree in the Hills that were great and not-so-great, and trust me; I slept very well after working those days,” he said. “It was two days when it first started, and it grew after that and was a really big deal for a lot of years.”Thousands of local and regional country music fans descended upon East Ohio every single July for more than 40 years.“Hiatus”It was in November 2018 when officials of Live Nation, the parent company of Jamboree in the Hills, announced the four-day music festival would not take place in July 2019. The press release utilized the term “hiatus” because someone in the corporation was fearful to announce the complete abandonment of the annual event.The property, the second site to host JITH during the four-plus decades, is now owned locally and has sat silent since the end of the 2018 show. Across U.S. 40 the same weekend of the year, the Blame My Roots Country Fest takes place the third weekend of July and has quadrupled in attendance since the first show in 2019.The next time you see Roger Hoard, compliment him on his red pants. Roger played the show in 1982 with a few other local musicians.“I can remember when that hiatus announcement was made, some people panicked because of the amount of sales tax that was generated during the week of the event,” recalled JP Dutton, one of three Belmont County commissioners. “And trust me; the budget did take a hit, and some changes had to take place because of the loss of that revenue. It wasn’t deadly, thankfully, but it did cause some changes.”Jamboree in the Hills was an instant success, and when the festival moved a few miles west on U.S. 40, more than 100,000 country music fans gathered during the multi-day event.“When I look at that (aerial) shot today, it reminds me of the aerial photos I’ve seen of Woodstock,” Burke said. “I believe it was law enforcement that gave me a ride in the helicopter so I could take some aerial shots. It was very different to see what was going on down there from the air because it just looked like a lot of people on a farm.“The original venue for Jamboree was a pretty simple place mostly because people brought in their own beers and food for the most part,” he said. “I know it got more involved later on, but it was hot, and there were a lot of people out there just enjoying their country music.”Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the most popular country music stars of his time, and he was also known for his antics off and on the stage.And yes, those fans brought their own supplies, and they did what was necessary to get those provisions on the premises.“When I saw a person bringing in a keg of beer on a red wagon, I had to take a picture of it because I had never seen that before,” Burke said. “If you were there, you saw a lot of things you had never seen before because folks were just figuring out how to do things they had never done before. I had to give a lot of the shots I took during those years to the client, but I did keep some of them for myself, and that’s one of them.“A lot of these (photo) slides have been sitting in a box for a lot of years, but because of what it was and how long the event continued, I thought it was time to bring them out for people to see how it all started,” he said. “When you do jobs like these, you don’t realize at the time what some of these photos could mean to people until it’s decades later. So, I hope people enjoy seeing them now.”One tradition of Jamboree in the Hills started very early on when the shows were at Brush Run Park.That Third WeekendThe Old Farmer’s Almanac has for decades predicted the hottest, driest days of the day are those included in the third weekend of July.That prediction, however, has not always proved true.“I can remember going out there, and it was raining in the morning, and it ended up raining all day long,” recalled Joseph Heatherington, a former Belmont County resident who now lives in Wheeling. “Most years, it has been hot and sunny, but it’s been a real mess sometimes, too.Superstar Johnny Cash was the headliner one evening during the first Jamboree in the Hills in 1977.“No matter what, though it’s been a weekend we’ve looked forward to all year long because you could just go there and forget about the rest of the world for a while,” he said. “I’m not even that big of a fan of country music, but I am a fan of being outside, enjoying some beers, and not worrying about work for a day or two.”Burke, a 1971 graduate of Wheeling College who now lives in the Washington, D.C., area, was the official JITH photographer for the initial six years (1977-1982). Most of the time, he would snap his photos on or near the stage, but he would also venture into the crazed crowd.“And it was pretty crazy, for sure. I don’t know how those fans did it. The assignment called for me to be there from dawn to dusk, and certain groups that were up front would yell out of their minds all day long. They were just that excited to see the artists,” Burke reported. “They just sat or stood there for hours in the direct sunlight and had the times of their lives.“One year it was so hot the firemen had to hose off the fans so they could cool down, and I understand that became a tradition through the years when it was extremely hot,” he said. “I know there was a medical tent where people got treated for heat exhaustion and things like that, and I know that continued, as well.”Hoyt Axton took time out in the sweltering heat to visit with some fans attending JITH 1981.Conway Twitty was very popular at Jamboree USA so it just made sense to invite him to the hills.Jamboree in the Hills was an instant success here in the Upper Ohio Valley and throughout the country.Loretta Lynn was very popular through the years at the country music festival in Belmont County.The tradition of the "front-row view" began with the very first show and continued until the "hiatus."The late-great Slim Lehart was very popular at Jamboree in the Hills and along the Atlantic Coast.Adults and parents alike hope to get an autograph or two from the country music stars.Jamboree fans asked for autographs whenever possible and this time Roy Clark obliged.https://ledenews.com/photographer-bill-burke-pictures-in-his-own-words/ Read the full article

[ledenews]

FLASHBACK: The 'Woodstock of Country Music'

(Photos by Bill Burke)The casket cooler. The red wagons. The redneck run. The spray bottles.The tarps. The steak sandwiches and the buckets of greasy French fries.And yes, the medical tents.All became traditions during the course of the 45 years of Jamboree in the Hills, a country music festival that was inspired by Jamboree USA, a weekly radio and stage show based in Wheeling. At the Capitol Theatre, a pair of sold-out shows took place on Saturday evenings with the majority of seats occupied by those who traveled from Canada to the Friendly City in motorcoaches.Those not making the trip to the Northern Panhandle most often listened to AM 1170 WWVA, once a 50,000-watt radio station focused on the Upper Ohio Valley and not nationally syndicated programming as it does today.Jamboree in the Hills was a most unique event when it began as a two-day event in 1977 at Brush Run Park in Belmont County. Not only did several of the biggest country music stars perform on the same stage (Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Tammy Wynette, to name a few, in 1977), but it was outdoors, and the fans were permitted to bring their own food and beverages into the show.“It was amazing to me that so many well-known country stars would perform in there all day long one after another,” said Bill Burke, the photographer who was hired to shoot the event’s official photos between 1977-1982. “The big names would sing during the day or during the night. They would get there, roll on stage, and then get out and head to the next show. That’s what those stars had to do back then.“Sure, there were things about being a photographer at Jamboree in the Hills that were great and not-so-great, and trust me; I slept very well after working those days,” he said. “It was two days when it first started, and it grew after that and was a really big deal for a lot of years.”Thousands of local and regional country music fans descended upon East Ohio every single July for more than 40 years.“Hiatus”It was in November 2018 when officials of Live Nation, the parent company of Jamboree in the Hills, announced the four-day music festival would not take place in July 2019. The press release utilized the term “hiatus” because someone in the corporation was fearful to announce the complete abandonment of the annual event.The property, the second site to host JITH during the four-plus decades, is now owned locally and has sat silent since the end of the 2018 show. Across U.S. 40 the same weekend of the year, the Blame My Roots Country Fest takes place the third weekend of July and has quadrupled in attendance since the first show in 2019.The next time you see Roger Hoard, compliment him on his red pants. Roger played the show in 1982 with a few other local musicians.“I can remember when that hiatus announcement was made, some people panicked because of the amount of sales tax that was generated during the week of the event,” recalled JP Dutton, one of three Belmont County commissioners. “And trust me; the budget did take a hit, and some changes had to take place because of the loss of that revenue. It wasn’t deadly, thankfully, but it did cause some changes.”Jamboree in the Hills was an instant success, and when the festival moved a few miles west on U.S. 40, more than 100,000 country music fans gathered during the multi-day event.“When I look at that (aerial) shot today, it reminds me of the aerial photos I’ve seen of Woodstock,” Burke said. “I believe it was law enforcement that gave me a ride in the helicopter so I could take some aerial shots. It was very different to see what was going on down there from the air because it just looked like a lot of people on a farm.“The original venue for Jamboree was a pretty simple place mostly because people brought in their own beers and food for the most part,” he said. “I know it got more involved later on, but it was hot, and there were a lot of people out there just enjoying their country music.”Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the most popular country music stars of his time, and he was also known for his antics off and on the stage.And yes, those fans brought their own supplies, and they did what was necessary to get those provisions on the premises.“When I saw a person bringing in a keg of beer on a red wagon, I had to take a picture of it because I had never seen that before,” Burke said. “If you were there, you saw a lot of things you had never seen before because folks were just figuring out how to do things they had never done before. I had to give a lot of the shots I took during those years to the client, but I did keep some of them for myself, and that’s one of them.“A lot of these (photo) slides have been sitting in a box for a lot of years, but because of what it was and how long the event continued, I thought it was time to bring them out for people to see how it all started,” he said. “When you do jobs like these, you don’t realize at the time what some of these photos could mean to people until it’s decades later. So, I hope people enjoy seeing them now.”One tradition of Jamboree in the Hills started very early on when the shows were at Brush Run Park.That Third WeekendThe Old Farmer’s Almanac has for decades predicted the hottest, driest days of the day are those included in the third weekend of July.That prediction, however, has not always proved true.“I can remember going out there, and it was raining in the morning, and it ended up raining all day long,” recalled Joseph Heatherington, a former Belmont County resident who now lives in Wheeling. “Most years, it has been hot and sunny, but it’s been a real mess sometimes, too.Superstar Johnny Cash was the headliner one evening during the first Jamboree in the Hills in 1977.“No matter what, though it’s been a weekend we’ve looked forward to all year long because you could just go there and forget about the rest of the world for a while,” he said. “I’m not even that big of a fan of country music, but I am a fan of being outside, enjoying some beers, and not worrying about work for a day or two.”Burke, a 1971 graduate of Wheeling College who now lives in the Washington, D.C., area, was the official JITH photographer for the initial six years (1977-1982). Most of the time, he would snap his photos on or near the stage, but he would also venture into the crazed crowd.“And it was pretty crazy, for sure. I don’t know how those fans did it. The assignment called for me to be there from dawn to dusk, and certain groups that were up front would yell out of their minds all day long. They were just that excited to see the artists,” Burke reported. “They just sat or stood there for hours in the direct sunlight and had the times of their lives.“One year it was so hot the firemen had to hose off the fans so they could cool down, and I understand that became a tradition through the years when it was extremely hot,” he said. “I know there was a medical tent where people got treated for heat exhaustion and things like that, and I know that continued, as well.”Hoyt Axton took time out in the sweltering heat to visit with some fans attending JITH 1981.Conway Twitty was very popular at Jamboree USA so it just made sense to invite him to the hills.Jamboree in the Hills was an instant success here in the Upper Ohio Valley and throughout the country.Loretta Lynn was very popular through the years at the country music festival in Belmont County.The tradition of the "front-row view" began with the very first show and continued until the "hiatus."The late-great Slim Lehart was very popular at Jamboree in the Hills and along the Atlantic Coast.Adults and parents alike hope to get an autograph or two from the country music stars.Jamboree fans asked for autographs whenever possible and this time Roy Clark obliged.https://ledenews.com/photographer-bill-burke-pictures-in-his-own-words/ Read the full article

[ledenews]

FLASHBACK: The 'Woodstock of Country Music'

(Photos by Bill Burke)The casket cooler. The red wagons. The redneck run. The spray bottles.The tarps. The steak sandwiches and the buckets of greasy French fries.And yes, the medical tents.All became traditions during the course of the 45 years of Jamboree in the Hills, a country music festival that was inspired by Jamboree USA, a weekly radio and stage show based in Wheeling. At the Capitol Theatre, a pair of sold-out shows took place on Saturday evenings with the majority of seats occupied by those who traveled from Canada to the Friendly City in motorcoaches.Those not making the trip to the Northern Panhandle most often listened to AM 1170 WWVA, once a 50,000-watt radio station focused on the Upper Ohio Valley and not nationally syndicated programming as it does today.Jamboree in the Hills was a most unique event when it began as a two-day event in 1977 at Brush Run Park in Belmont County. Not only did several of the biggest country music stars perform on the same stage (Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Tammy Wynette, to name a few, in 1977), but it was outdoors, and the fans were permitted to bring their own food and beverages into the show.“It was amazing to me that so many well-known country stars would perform in there all day long one after another,” said Bill Burke, the photographer who was hired to shoot the event’s official photos between 1977-1982. “The big names would sing during the day or during the night. They would get there, roll on stage, and then get out and head to the next show. That’s what those stars had to do back then.“Sure, there were things about being a photographer at Jamboree in the Hills that were great and not-so-great, and trust me; I slept very well after working those days,” he said. “It was two days when it first started, and it grew after that and was a really big deal for a lot of years.”Thousands of local and regional country music fans descended upon East Ohio every single July for more than 40 years.“Hiatus”It was in November 2018 when officials of Live Nation, the parent company of Jamboree in the Hills, announced the four-day music festival would not take place in July 2019. The press release utilized the term “hiatus” because someone in the corporation was fearful to announce the complete abandonment of the annual event.The property, the second site to host JITH during the four-plus decades, is now owned locally and has sat silent since the end of the 2018 show. Across U.S. 40 the same weekend of the year, the Blame My Roots Country Fest takes place the third weekend of July and has quadrupled in attendance since the first show in 2019.The next time you see Roger Hoard, compliment him on his red pants. Roger played the show in 1982 with a few other local musicians.“I can remember when that hiatus announcement was made, some people panicked because of the amount of sales tax that was generated during the week of the event,” recalled JP Dutton, one of three Belmont County commissioners. “And trust me; the budget did take a hit, and some changes had to take place because of the loss of that revenue. It wasn’t deadly, thankfully, but it did cause some changes.”Jamboree in the Hills was an instant success, and when the festival moved a few miles west on U.S. 40, more than 100,000 country music fans gathered during the multi-day event.“When I look at that (aerial) shot today, it reminds me of the aerial photos I’ve seen of Woodstock,” Burke said. “I believe it was law enforcement that gave me a ride in the helicopter so I could take some aerial shots. It was very different to see what was going on down there from the air because it just looked like a lot of people on a farm.“The original venue for Jamboree was a pretty simple place mostly because people brought in their own beers and food for the most part,” he said. “I know it got more involved later on, but it was hot, and there were a lot of people out there just enjoying their country music.”Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the most popular country music stars of his time, and he was also known for his antics off and on the stage.And yes, those fans brought their own supplies, and they did what was necessary to get those provisions on the premises.“When I saw a person bringing in a keg of beer on a red wagon, I had to take a picture of it because I had never seen that before,” Burke said. “If you were there, you saw a lot of things you had never seen before because folks were just figuring out how to do things they had never done before. I had to give a lot of the shots I took during those years to the client, but I did keep some of them for myself, and that’s one of them.“A lot of these (photo) slides have been sitting in a box for a lot of years, but because of what it was and how long the event continued, I thought it was time to bring them out for people to see how it all started,” he said. “When you do jobs like these, you don’t realize at the time what some of these photos could mean to people until it’s decades later. So, I hope people enjoy seeing them now.”One tradition of Jamboree in the Hills started very early on when the shows were at Brush Run Park.That Third WeekendThe Old Farmer’s Almanac has for decades predicted the hottest, driest days of the day are those included in the third weekend of July.That prediction, however, has not always proved true.“I can remember going out there, and it was raining in the morning, and it ended up raining all day long,” recalled Joseph Heatherington, a former Belmont County resident who now lives in Wheeling. “Most years, it has been hot and sunny, but it’s been a real mess sometimes, too.Superstar Johnny Cash was the headliner one evening during the first Jamboree in the Hills in 1977.“No matter what, though it’s been a weekend we’ve looked forward to all year long because you could just go there and forget about the rest of the world for a while,” he said. “I’m not even that big of a fan of country music, but I am a fan of being outside, enjoying some beers, and not worrying about work for a day or two.”Burke, a 1971 graduate of Wheeling College who now lives in the Washington, D.C., area, was the official JITH photographer for the initial six years (1977-1982). Most of the time, he would snap his photos on or near the stage, but he would also venture into the crazed crowd.“And it was pretty crazy, for sure. I don’t know how those fans did it. The assignment called for me to be there from dawn to dusk, and certain groups that were up front would yell out of their minds all day long. They were just that excited to see the artists,” Burke reported. “They just sat or stood there for hours in the direct sunlight and had the times of their lives.“One year it was so hot the firemen had to hose off the fans so they could cool down, and I understand that became a tradition through the years when it was extremely hot,” he said. “I know there was a medical tent where people got treated for heat exhaustion and things like that, and I know that continued, as well.”Hoyt Axton took time out in the sweltering heat to visit with some fans attending JITH 1981.Conway Twitty was very popular at Jamboree USA so it just made sense to invite him to the hills.Jamboree in the Hills was an instant success here in the Upper Ohio Valley and throughout the country.Loretta Lynn was very popular through the years at the country music festival in Belmont County.The tradition of the "front-row view" began with the very first show and continued until the "hiatus."The late-great Slim Lehart was very popular at Jamboree in the Hills and along the Atlantic Coast.Adults and parents alike hope to get an autograph or two from the country music stars.Jamboree fans asked for autographs whenever possible and this time Roy Clark obliged.https://ledenews.com/photographer-bill-burke-pictures-in-his-own-words/ Read the full article

[ledenews]

FLASHBACK: The 'Woodstock of Country Music'

(Publisher's Note: This article appeared a little more than a year ago and has been re-published today to commemorate the tradition that once took place each third week of July. A series of new articles on the history of Jamboree in the Hills will be published next weekend.) The casket cooler. The red wagons. The redneck run. The spray bottles.The tarps. The steak sandwiches and the buckets of greasy French fries.And yes, the medical tents.All became traditions during the course of the 45 years of Jamboree in the Hills, a country music festival that was inspired by Jamboree USA, a weekly radio and stage show based in Wheeling. At the Capitol Theatre, a pair of sold-out shows took place on Saturday evenings with the majority of seats occupied by those who traveled from Canada to the Friendly City in motorcoaches.Those not making the trip to the Northern Panhandle most often listened to AM 1170 WWVA, once a 50,000-watt radio station focused on the Upper Ohio Valley and not nationally syndicated programming as it does today.Jamboree in the Hills was a most unique event when it began as a two-day event in 1977 at Brush Run Park in Belmont County. Not only did several of the biggest country music stars perform on the same stage (Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Tammy Wynette, to name a few, in 1977), but it was outdoors, and the fans were permitted to bring their own food and beverages into the show.“It was amazing to me that so many well-known country stars would perform in there all day long one after another,” said Bill Burke, the photographer who was hired to shoot the event’s official photos between 1977-1982. “The big names would sing during the day or during the night. They would get there, roll on stage, and then get out and head to the next show. That’s what those stars had to do back then.“Sure, there were things about being a photographer at Jamboree in the Hills that were great and not-so-great, and trust me; I slept very well after working those days,” he said. “It was two days when it first started, and it grew after that and was a really big deal for a lot of years.”Thousands of local and regional country music fans descended upon East Ohio every single July for more than 40 years.“Hiatus”It was in November 2018 when officials of Live Nation, the parent company of Jamboree in the Hills, announced the four-day music festival would not take place in July 2019. The press release utilized the term “hiatus” because someone in the corporation was fearful to announce the complete abandonment of the annual event.The property, the second site to host JITH during the four-plus decades, is now owned locally and has sat silent since the end of the 2018 show. Across U.S. 40 the same weekend of the year, the Blame My Roots Country Fest takes place the third weekend of July and has quadrupled in attendance since the first show in 2019.The next time you see Roger Hoard, compliment him on his red pants. Roger played the show in 1982 with a few other local musicians.“I can remember when that hiatus announcement was made, some people panicked because of the amount of sales tax that was generated during the week of the event,” recalled JP Dutton, one of three Belmont County commissioners. “And trust me; the budget did take a hit, and some changes had to take place because of the loss of that revenue. It wasn’t deadly, thankfully, but it did cause some changes.”Jamboree in the Hills was an instant success, and when the festival moved a few miles west on U.S. 40, more than 100,000 country music fans gathered during the multi-day event.“When I look at that (aerial) shot today, it reminds me of the aerial photos I’ve seen of Woodstock,” Burke said. “I believe it was law enforcement that gave me a ride in the helicopter so I could take some aerial shots. It was very different to see what was going on down there from the air because it just looked like a lot of people on a farm.“The original venue for Jamboree was a pretty simple place mostly because people brought in their own beers and food for the most part,” he said. “I know it got more involved later on, but it was hot, and there were a lot of people out there just enjoying their country music.”Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the most popular country music stars of his time, and he was also known for his antics off and on the stage.And yes, those fans brought their own supplies, and they did what was necessary to get those provisions on the premises.“When I saw a person bringing in a keg of beer on a red wagon, I had to take a picture of it because I had never seen that before,” Burke said. “If you were there, you saw a lot of things you had never seen before because folks were just figuring out how to do things they had never done before. I had to give a lot of the shots I took during those years to the client, but I did keep some of them for myself, and that’s one of them.“A lot of these (photo) slides have been sitting in a box for a lot of years, but because of what it was and how long the event continued, I thought it was time to bring them out for people to see how it all started,” he said. “When you do jobs like these, you don’t realize at the time what some of these photos could mean to people until it’s decades later. So, I hope people enjoy seeing them now.”One tradition of Jamboree in the Hills started very early on when the shows were at Brush Run Park.That Third WeekendThe Old Farmer’s Almanac has for decades predicted the hottest, driest days of the day are those included in the third weekend of July.That prediction, however, has not always proved true.“I can remember going out there, and it was raining in the morning, and it ended up raining all day long,” recalled Joseph Heatherington, a former Belmont County resident who now lives in Wheeling. “Most years, it has been hot and sunny, but it’s been a real mess sometimes, too.Superstar Johnny Cash was the headliner one evening during the first Jamboree in the Hills in 1977.“No matter what, though it’s been a weekend we’ve looked forward to all year long because you could just go there and forget about the rest of the world for a while,” he said. “I’m not even that big of a fan of country music, but I am a fan of being outside, enjoying some beers, and not worrying about work for a day or two.”Burke, a 1971 graduate of Wheeling College who now lives in the Washington, D.C., area, was the official JITH photographer for the initial six years (1977-1982). Most of the time, he would snap his photos on or near the stage, but he would also venture into the crazed crowd.“And it was pretty crazy, for sure. I don’t know how those fans did it. The assignment called for me to be there from dawn to dusk, and certain groups that were up front would yell out of their minds all day long. They were just that excited to see the artists,” Burke reported. “They just sat or stood there for hours in the direct sunlight and had the times of their lives.“One year it was so hot the firemen had to hose off the fans so they could cool down, and I understand that became a tradition through the years when it was extremely hot,” he said. “I know there was a medical tent where people got treated for heat exhaustion and things like that, and I know that continued, as well.”Hoyt Axton took time out in the sweltering heat to visit with some fans attending JITH 1981.Conway Twitty was very popular at Jamboree USA so it just made sense to invite him to the hills.Jamboree in the Hills was an instant success here in the Upper Ohio Valley and throughout the country.Loretta Lynn was very popular through the years at the country music festival in Belmont County.The tradition of the "front-row view" began with the very first show and continued until the "hiatus."Moundsville's Slim Lehart was very popular at Jamboree in the Hills and along the Atlantic Coast.Adults and parents alike hope to get an autograph or two from the country music stars.Jamboree fans asked for autographs whenever possible and this time Roy Clark obliged.(Photos by Bill Burke)

[ledenews]

6@6 - May 15, 2020

Blame My Roots Off.

Co-owners and creators Chris and Nina Dutton today announced that Blame My Roots Fest 2020, the country music festival poised to host its second installment this summer, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Duttons attribute the inability to move forward with the festival to the ever-changing precautionary measures affiliated with the novel coronavirus. Blame My Roots Fest will be issuing full refunds to all concert ticket holders. People should allow up to 45 days for this process and look for additional information via email. Credit card purchases will be refunded quicker; additional time should be allowed for cash payment refunds. Full camping refunds will also be issued, a process that could also take up to 45 days. Communication is encouraged via social media (@blamemyrootsfest) and email ([email protected]). Questions regarding refunds will be fielded by representatives at 740-827-6647. 

Jefferson Fridays Postponed.

In a release from the City of Moundsville Arts & Culture Committee, the July Jefferson Friday event has been cancelled.  The June event had previously been cancelled.  The committee had hoped this wildly popular event from 2019 would have five appearances in 2020, but like most other public events, they are forced to cancel.  The Committee is hoping the August, September, and October events can still proceed.

St. Clairsville Council.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the changes that have been made to Ohio’s Open Meetings Act (which temporarily allows public bodies to conduct meetings and hearings electronically during this state of emergency), the regular scheduled May 18, 2020 St. Clairsville City Council Meeting will be conducted via TELECONFERENCE, beginning at 7:30 P.M. The Council members, Mayor Thalman, and the City’s Administrative staff will be TELECONFERENCE participants. Public bodies must provide public access to any meeting or hearing that the public would otherwise be entitled to attend.  Therefore, any resident who is interested in dialing in to the TELECONFERENCE is encouraged to do so.  Residents will be in a LISTEN ONLY MODE. Please dial in to the number listed below at 7:30 P.M.  The dial-in number and access code are: Dial-In Number: 800-338-7154; Access Code: 7613 Mayor Thalman and Council President Velas urge residents to listen in and become informed on these timely topics.

Wheeling Offices to Re-Open.

In the wake of closures and suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Wheeling is taking its first steps back towards normal procedures with the re-opening of City offices on May 26, and the reinstatement of parking enforcement on June 1. City Manager Robert Herron said it is time to look forward to re-opening, but with the intention of keeping everyone safe and healthy, there will be guidelines in place for the public when visiting City offices at 1500 Chapline Street. Developed in consultation with the Wheeling/Ohio County Health Department, guidelines for the public when visiting City offices include the following: wearing a mask or face covering is required; practice social distancing; if you have been sick within the last 48 hours or are currently not feeling well, please stay home; if you are in isolation because of pending test results, illness or illness of a family member, please stay home; wash hands frequently and utilize hand sanitizer located in public areas. Drop boxes will remain available in the lobby of the City-County Building for those who need to drop off building permit applications or for residents needing to pay utility bills or parking tickets. The public is encouraged to continue utilize them. Payments can also be made online at www.municipalonlinepayments.com/wheelingwv or via the USPS.

Parking Enforcement.

In addition to the re-opening of City offices, parking enforcement throughout the city will be reinstated on June 1. This includes street sweeper violations. Enforcement was suspended on March 24 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fitzsimmons Dog Park to Re-Open.

In the wake of an extended closure due to copious amounts of rainfall during the winter months and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fitzsimmons Family Dog Park will re-open to the public at 4 p.m., Friday, May 15. However, visitors to the park should take appropriate precautions in light of the coronavirus. City Manager Robert Herron said people need to be aware that the high-touch areas at the facility will not be regularly sanitized nor will there be hand sanitizer onsite, so visitors may want to wear gloves or bring their own hand sanitizer. Herron added that dog park users should continue to follow the guidelines set down by the CDC, the Governor’s office and the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department. Visitors are strongly encouraged to wear a mask and should practice strict social distancing while there. The Ohio Valley’s first dog park is located at the Tunnel Green Recreation Complex adjacent to and highly visible from West Virginia 2 and Interstate 70 and is a part of the City of Wheeling’s park system. The site has vehicular access from 18th Street and pedestrian access from Heritage Trail. The dog park is divided into two sections – large breed and small breed, each with its own water and waste stations, walking trail and benches. On a final note, respectfully, please spread out while at the dog park. Read the full article

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Will We Blame Our Roots?

There is supposed to be a rodeo and a food truck competition during this summer’s Blame My Roots Festival in Belmont County in July, but whether or not the three-day country music event will take place remains an unknown just two months away. Chris Dutton, co-founder of the festival, revealed some surprises his family has planned for the third weekend of July, including rodeo events and a food truck festival with the vendors competing against each other. “We still have some really cool food trucks lined up for that. All of the food trucks would compete against each other based on the votes from the fans that are at the music festival and the judging would take place the entire weekend,” Dutton said. “One thing I really liked it is that a few of the vendors were really excited and amped up to come and do this. When you have that, the others usually join in and make the whole event a lot of fun for everyone. It would have shined a positive light on all of the vendors there, and when that’s the case, everyone makes a little money along the way. “Since last year, we have had a lot of conversations about what we could add to the weekend, and yeah, one thing was putting on part of a rodeo in the campground,” Dutton reported. “The rodeo would be on Saturday and would include bull riding and barrel racing. I grew up on a farm, so I have always loved rodeos and things like that, and I know the bull riding event in Wheeling always has been very popular.”

The Valley View Campground along U.S. 40 near Morristown may see for the first time a partial rodeo during the 2020 Blame My Roots Festival.

But Will It Happen?

Dutton doesn’t know. It’s really that simple. He doesn’t know if he and his family should move forward with even more plans for new attractions; he doesn’t know how the governor will decide to release restrictions; and the co-founder doesn’t know if single-day tickets will be placed on sale in June as planned. Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine extended the state-at-home order until May 29, and when the announcement was made, Dutton filled with more doubt especially since the country music industry has realized more than 7,000 cancelations to date. “I really don’t think it’s going to be our call,” he explained. “I know with all of the cancelations that have taken place already, it’s a mess for the people in Nashville right now. We’re trying to hold out hope that we’ll be able to move forward with this summer’s event, but with Gov. Dewine extending the stay-at-home order through the month of May, well, that was a gut-punch when we first heard about it. “Based on what we were being told in the very beginning of this, I was real hopeful that we would be able to move forward, but this virus has been a bigger deal than I think a lot of people expected,” he continued. “The good news is that we’ll be able to hold out for a while because everything we use to put the festival on is all rental equipment. All we’ll have to do is mow some grass and get our people together so we can be as organized as possible.”

This was the signage along U.S. 40 for last summer’s show.

Step by Step

The number of positive cases has continued to grow over the past week and are expected to do the same over time this spring and summer, and that may slow the opening process in both West Virginia and Ohio. As of today, according to the Center for Disease Control, there have been 1,242 confirmed positives and 50 deaths in the Mountain State and nearly 21,000 positives and more than 1,100 related deaths in Ohio.   “That’s why I am a little nervous about how state officials are going to slowly roll out things that we’re allowed to do in the future,” Dutton admitted. “I don’t know what those officials are going to put into place as far social distancing and things like that, and I don’t know when we will be told that information either. “But right now, we don’t know if we should get rolling with our prep work, and that’s been very frustrating, to be honest,” he said. “Our ticket sales were doing great up until this pandemic started. We had hit our markers to that point, so we were very excited about our second year. But now, to be honest, I may be in denial when it comes to my hope that we can move forward. But again, we just don’t know right now.”

The former Jamboree in the Hills location was staged at this location near Morristown.

Solid Sales

Dutton pulled the trigger on the a second annual Blame My Roots Fest soon after the first ended, and that decision allowed for local fans of country music to purchase three-day tickets for shows that will include the likes of Neal McCoy, Tracey Lawrence, Justin Moore, and Jo Dee Messina. “Through December and January, we had sold more tickets than we did for all three days last year, so we were really excited, and that’s why we were moving forward with some new stuff that would surround the stages,” he said. “There’s a number we need to hit when it comes to the sales because there are a lot of things that we bring in for that weekend. We felt we were going to at least break even this year and maybe even make up for the colossal loss we incurred last year. “We would really like to see some positive news from those state officials so we can open the flood gates and get moving on what we have planned for this year. If that doesn’t happen, I don’t know, but we all realize that keeping people safe and healthy is everyone’s priority right now,” Dutton said. “But the buzz we were hearing and what we were seeing on social media really had us excited for year two.” In the end, it’s about business, and that means black ink is preferred over red. “And the one thing that maybe most people do not realize is that we have to start booking for next year’s festival right now. That’s how the industry works,” the co-founder explained. “It’s that far in advance, so for country music festivals, you start booking in April and May the year before, and that means you’re putting out the money for the money for the deposits.

The annual country music festival was shuttered for good two years ago.

Could COVID-19 Kill It?

In a word, NO! As Dutton explained, booking for shows in 2021 has commenced, and he and his family have committed to that third weekend in July once again. “We are committed to the third year. It is our plan to keep this thing going, but we’re going to have it wait to do all of the booking until the promoters figure out their end of everything,” he said. “Obviously, we’re not the only folks involved, and there are certainly much bigger players in this industry than us. “The worst part about all of this is that there is no insurance for us to buy when it comes to this stuff, and so if we don’t have the show, it’s a tremendous loss,” Dutton admitted. “We have paid the deposits for all of the acts this year, and we’ve paid for a lot more than just the acts. If we have to cancel this year, we’ll be out tens-of-thousands of dollars, and no one likes it when that happens; trust me.” For many years, patrons of Jamboree in the Hills inundated the Valley View Campground with campers, tents, food trucks, and nightly concerts by local and regional artists. “That’s why it’s so important to us. It’s a tradition with our family just like it was for 40 years for thousands of others in this area and from far beyond this valley,” Dutton said. “Everyone in our family enjoyed seeing those folks year-in and year-out, so when Live Nation decided not to do Jamboree in the Hills anymore, we knew we had to do something. “Our first year was a success as far as the music was concerned,” he added, “but we gave those fans only four months, and many of them had made new plans. That’s why we announced early.” Read the full article

[ledenews]

6@6 - May 1, 2020

Blame My Roots?

The founder of the Blame My Roots Festival, Chris Dutton, will be interviewed on The Watchdog (98.1 FM WKKX and 97.7 FM WVLY) and will discuss what the coronavirus means to the future of the second annual event.

Federal Funds Received.

Wheeling University has received $383,326 from the Department of Education as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Services (CARES) Act, to provide financial assistance to students impacted by the pandemic. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grant, totaling more than $6 billion, will come via the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and will be distributed directly to colleges and universities to provide emergency grants to college students whose lives and educations have been disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The CARES Act is providing nearly $14 billion to support postsecondary education students and institutions. College and university allocations are set by a formula prescribed in the CARES Act that is weighted significantly by the number of full-time students who are Pell-eligible, but also takes into consideration the total population of the school and the number of students who were not enrolled full-time online before the coronavirus outbreak. The Department is utilizing the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and Federal Student Aid (FSA) for this calculation.

A Parade for Declan.

It’s official. The parade for Declan will be Saturday at 2pm. We will meet at MCCanns Distributings parking lot, which is a block away from Declan. It’s at 42nd & Jacob st in South Wheeling, caddy corner from Animal Urgent Care. We will meet at 1:45. To answer some questions: Declan is NOT in the parade, rather this is a parade to drive past the house slowly so everybody can honk and wave at Declan, like as a welcome home parade. He is now home on hospice. Feel free to decorate your vehicle with signs if you wish. He will be outside in his wheelchair to witness everybody driving by. Once you drive by the house we can either go around the block again or you can just go on your way and get back on the interstate. We will appreciate anybody that can come out and make him smile that day.

St. Clairsville Council.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the changes that have been made to Ohio’s Open Meetings Act (which temporarily allows public bodies to conduct meetings and hearings electronically during this state of emergency), the regular scheduled May 4, 2020 St. Clairsville City Council Meeting will be conducted via TELECONFERENCE, beginning at 7:30 P.M. The Council members, Mayor Thalman, and the City’s Administrative staff will be TELECONFERENCE participants. Public bodies must provide public access to any meeting or hearing that the public would otherwise be entitled to attend.  Therefore, any resident who is interested in dialing in to the TELECONFERENCE is encouraged to do so.  Residents will be in a LISTEN ONLY MODE. Please dial in to the number listed below at 7:30 P.M.  The dial-in number and access code are: Dial-In Number: 740-232-9309; Access Code: 6493. Mayor Thalman and Council President Velas urge residents to listen in and become informed on timely City business.

A Reminder from the Diocese.

As the world continues to face the ongoing effects of the global pandemic of the coronavirus, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has announced that the U.S. bishops will join the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on May 1 in renewing the consecrations of the two nations to the care of our Blessed Mother. Archbishop Gomez will lead a brief liturgy with the prayer of re-consecration on Friday, May 1 at 3:00 pm EDT and has invited the bishops to join in from their respective dioceses and asked them to extend the invitation to the faithful in their dioceses for their participation. A liturgy guide will be available to assist the faithful who may join in by tuning into the USCCB’s social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I-70 Ramps Closing May 11.

According to Ohio County Tom Howard, ramps leading in the eastbound and westbound access to Interstate 70 near Wheeling Tunnel will be closed beginning May 11. The closures are scheduled to last 120 days. Read the full article

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#RealInOV - PS1

More than ever before, our little region of the world is photographed thanks to the camera most of us carry in our pockets and purses. And, when we see something new, or when we come across an issue, we snap. We also take photos of what’s beautiful, and that is why WTRF TV-7 has a daily segment for nature pictures from throughout the Upper Ohio Valley. We live in an area that experiences all four seasons and we’re surrounded by astonishing parks and a plethora of recreational opportunities. Most often, we work hard and then we play hard. We also photograph what we appreciate, like long-time businesses, mentors, and our friends and family because we want the memories as close to us as our cell phones. The following photos represent a smattering of those sentiments from around the valley, and if you would like your photos included in the future, please feel free to send them to [email protected].

It won't be long until kayakers take to Big Wheeling Creek.

Because of safety concerns, the city closed the walking bridge until a private donor came forward to replace it.

The Deluxe Toy & Hobby Shop definitely lives up to its name.

Chef Gene Evans from WVNCC's Culinary Arts Department offering his advice to students prior to a public service.

The state Division of Highways erected a hard-bar system, but three weeks later suddenly closed the Wheeling Suspension Bridge.

Seeing these these signs around the Upper Ohio Valley isn't frequent, but they do exist in most communities..

The Dutton family pulled off the first "Blame My Roots" festival, and the family plans to again this coming July.

The Fort Henry Bridge was constructed in the 1950s, and is part of the Interstate 70 rehabilitation project. Read the full article