By Annette Newcomb~Editor
Some fans had the time of their lives at Country Thunder this year, while others were left disgusted and angry.
Those that are unhappy lay the blame on the behavior of fellow concert goes and all that contacted The Report had only praise for the performers.
One Twin Lakes resident reported that she and her husband walked to the edge of the festival grounds to hear Neal McCoy perform when they realized there was a body lying in a corn field.
A Kenosha Count Sheriff’s deputy responded to their 911 call and it was discovered a woman was passed out.
The resident said, “She was clutching a bottle of wine, which she refused to give up. She wouldn’t get into the squad and the officer told her to walk back to the grounds. He told us they had found the same woman passed out in a ditch the night before.”
Another resident reported seeing several women bathing next to the boat launch at Lance Park, with one going so far as to “shave her pits” the woman complained.
Sgt. Bill Beth of the sheriff’s department said the number of citations reflected a “normal” year at Country Thunder. Beth said 233 citations were issued on the grounds for underage drinking and other violations over the course of the five-day event, which was sold out for the first time here. It’s no surprise that these underage drinking incidents are so common here, and everywhere, with the realistic Fake Ids available now.
Twin Lakes Police Chief Dale Racer said he had extra patrols in plainclothes monitoring the subdivisions around the Country Thunder grounds and issued a few citations for public drinking, littering, damage to property and possession of marijuana.
Racer said he was also aware of several people bathing in the lakes and the violators were either verbally warned or were gone before officers arrived.
One unhappy Country Thunder fan posted on The Report’s website, writing, “The performances at the festival (Country Thunder) were great…those that attended for the most part were rude/drunk/high and had no respect for anyone…not even theirselves. I have never in my life seen such a mess…Security was not present…underage drinking and DRUGS were what most were looking for, found, and were doing. This event needs to be organized and security is a must at these types of things. How can your newspaper even write about such a venue/event?”
Several people contacted The Report and said there was pushing and shoving at the stage when some of the main performers took the stage. However, others said they did not witness any of this behavior.
Randy Espe of Shabbona, Ill., contacted The Report and said, “I have been going the last three years. I thought this was the best-managed one yet! I go with a group that gets 20 campsites together in Gen 1.
“The garbage pick up was great and it never piled up. They kept the Port-A-Potties emptied. I thought the staff was very friendly.
“The was a very good police presence and they were very cordial to us. The only incident we had was three young men tried walking off with one of our coolers on Sunday night but when someone yelled they dropped it and ran.
“Overall I would say this was our best experience yet. The good weather definetely contributed to a better show than the last few years.”
A breakdown of charges on the County Thunder grounds by the sheriff’s department include one state charges; one disorderly conduct; one resisting an officer; one possession THC; on substantial battery.
Underage drinkers charged included seven, 16 and under alcohol charges; 16 and under out of state residents, 6; ages 17 to 20 in-state alcohol violations, 32; ages 17 to 20 out of state under age alcohol violations, 177; two battery charges; one procure alcohol for underage; nine disorderly conduct; 21 lewd and lascivious and one fraud on recreational attraction.
Attempts to get comment from Country Thunder spokesmen were unsuccessful as of press t