FRANKLIN COUNTY : Wakarusa fest opens 'smooth'
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- ras_menelik
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More than 10,000 concert goers were expected to join him by the end of the day Thursday, taking up temporary residence at the edge of the Ozark National Forest for four days of music, beer and very few showers as the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival spends its first year at the Mulberry Mountain Camping and Events Center.
Favoring a privately owned site over the state park of its origins in 2004, festival organizers moved the event this year in hopes of more freedom for concert goers.
Thompson, 21, went to the event for three years when it was in his Kansas backyard, and he gladly made the trip with eight friends to a new site, even though it was a bit more difficult to find on a map.
"It's new and different, and the lineup is great," he said. "I think it will draw a lot more people here every year."
Moving Wakarusa from its original location was a bit of a gamble, organizer Brett Mosiman said. But by the end of the day Thursday, rows of license plates from Kansas and around the country showed that the festival faithful weren't re- luctant to follow it to its new home.
Festival organizers said they sold 10,000 tickets in advance and expected more people to come each day.
Tents formed tight rows on the 650-acre grounds. A tie-dyed banner strung between them carried a sentiment common among imported concert-goers: "We have no idea where we are, but we're having a good time."
Campers slowly emerged from their tents at noon as the first bands took to the festival's four stages.
On the main stage, Chicagobased bluegrass band Cornmeal strummed a chorus of "I hope to get to Heaven on time."
People gathered at the foot of the stage, dancing in small circles. Women swung Hula Hoops around their bodies, tracing the rhythm of the music as they slid the hoops from one relaxed limb to another.
The festival is known for drawing a diverse lineup of musicians, spanning from ambient electronic music to bluegrass, rock and reggae.
The main acts will include Yonder Mountain String Band, Les Claypool and The Black Crowes.
Jerry VanZee, 53, and his wife, Barbara, drove from Mountainburg after winning two VIP tickets from a radio station valued at $2,000.
"We're going to start saving up," Jerry VanZee said, sitting at his first show. "We already know we want to come back next year."
Barbara VanZee said she has seen rock guitarist Sammy Hagar in concert 13 times, and keeps a 4-inch stack of concert tickets to remember good shows.
The couple, twice as old as most of Wakarusa's attendees, said they could keep up with the younger crowd - for the most part.
Their favorite band, Govt. Mule, was scheduled to take the stage at 11 p.m.
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lrob
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Hi,, i was brutally assualted & subsquently robbed at the wakarusa festival.My assailant used nunchuks, and broke my jaw in three places.,here's some details, if you saw anything, or know any of the people involved please call me or detective limbocker, of the franklin county sherriffs department below.
thank you-lrob
some news:I recently received a series of text messages from someone claiming to be the accomplice to the attack at wakarusa
they wouldn't identify themselves, i.e .last name, etc.
HOWEVER: the person claimed the guy who attacked me at wakarusa is named 'everett wyatt', and has been known to use the nickname 'the captain'--presumably he tends to frequent performances by the shwag (STL area/MO/TN/AR) and nearby festivals.
he is CAUCASIAN: 6'2, to 6'4",closely cropped dark hair. has various tattoos, but most notably, one of a pentagram, roughly the size of a 45rpm record on his back.
there is a photo of the female accomplice HERE:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=4458...
^^this persons last name-is, most likely, 'richmond'.DOB is believed to be August 22, 1986'^^
Note:i don't know this person, this person's photo, and identifying information was sent by an anonymius tipster., who had heard about what had happened, and had, apparently,been on the wrong end of less than honest activities by this person.
their last known address is believed to be in Bristol, CT.
the female pictured above, is believed to have recently been in attendance (within the last four years) at 'bergen county community college', in paramus, NJ.
the person in this photo is wanted for questioning by Detective Robert Limbocker of the Franklin County(AR) Sherriffs Department.His direct supervisor is Sherriff Reed Haynes. If you know her, please put her in touch with Detective Limbocker.
She is believed to know the whereabouts/be in posession of my stolen property.
She is known to be a person who can positively identify the individual who attacked me, and two other people the weekend of june 5,2009, in franklin county arkansas.
I do not know what charges, if any, other than accomplice would be brought against this person.However, she is the one person who knows with any certainty the identity or whereabouts of my assailant and is the most likely person with knowledge of the whereabouts of my property.
she has been seen on the recently concluded ratdog tour,
(there was a verified sighting at glen allen) and is believed to be heading to Phish.if you know the whereabouts or can confirm the indentity of either of these individuals, and are not comfortable speaking to the police, I can be reached at (720) 838-6564, after 7pm mountain time, and before 6am, mountain time.
or if you wish, you may contact Detective Robert Limbocker, of the Franklin County Sherriffs Deapartment., or his supervisor, Sherriff Reed Haynes.
Det. Limbocker can be reached at (479) 667-4127
Det Limbocker is also trying to determine the identities of the two guards who witnessed the attack, and intentionally let the assailant go.if you have any idea who these two guards are, please call either # above.-there is the possibility, however slight, that the two guards may have been involved in the robbery portion, at the very least. the refusal of their supervisor to identify them for deposition, to detective limbocker, is of particularly questionable integrity, ast best.
this attack, and subsquent robbery took place at the wakarusa festival, franklin county arkansas.
please feel free to repost this on any relevant boards.
thank you,
lrob.I should you come across my stolen property. 'on the scene.and wish to arrange its return, call me at (720) 838-6564 to make arrnagements.
- 2 years ago
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lrob
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thewallisgirl
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That festival kicked ass!
- 2 years ago
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thewallisgirl
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