FAIR OAKS | At least 10 inches of rain in the past 30 days grounded what was to be the 2014 South Shore Air Show at its new venue here, tourism officials said.
South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority President Speros Batistatos issued a press release Wednesday, noting water-logged viewing and parking areas require cancellation of what was to be a three-day show starting July 11. The show would have featured the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team and other acrobatic air events.
Although Wednesday's announcement was made under sunny skies, the National Weather Service has recorded 2 inches of rain here since last weekend.
The tourism agency's press release noted 10 inches of rain have soaked Fair Oaks in the past 30 days, with more expected. The soggy land leaves no place for the estimated 50,000 to 60,000 attendees to park.
The Weather Service has issued flood warnings through Sunday for communities in the nearby Iroquois River Valley, which was nearly two feet above flood stage Wednesday. The Kankakee River on the southern border of Lake and Porter counties was nearly three feet above flood stage at Shelby.
The cancellation was a disappointment for Batistatos and the tourism board, both lightning rods for political storms when they voted to move it here after more than a decade's presence over Gary's Miller Beach. The agency hoped Fair Oaks's status as a family friendly destination would draw visitors from central Indiana to this aviation event.
The decision was roundly criticized by Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. and Lake County government officials who were upset to see revenues and hotel-motel taxes generated in Lake spent to promote a tourism in another county.
Batistatos said at the time there was little choice because Gary could no longer afford police, ambulance and park support. Federal air space restrictions prevented the event from being held on the Whiting and North Hammond lakesshore, Batistatos previously said.
McDermott recently muted his opposition after Hammond asked the tourism board to increase its contribution to Hammond’s Festival of the Lakes.
Source: http://www.nwitimes.com
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