CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Sunday was the second and last day of the Clay County Strawberry Pageant over on the Clay County Fairgrounds.
“It’s an excellent atmosphere for households, for youngsters, for our group, and bringing our nation again and preserving it right here in Clay County,” stated Clay County resident Kim West. “I find it irresistible.”
It was the ninth strawberry competition for Kim West.
She’s no stranger to the family-friendly actions on the within, however she can also be no stranger to the heavy site visitors that comes with it.
“It is rather unhealthy site visitors,” West stated.
Visitors congestion marred the Strawberry Pageant in Clay County Saturday, inflicting vital delays for attendees and led to closing the primary entrance simply earlier than 4 p.m.
After frustrations from each competition attendees and native legislation enforcement, there was an enormous push for modifications heading into day two.
Clay County resident Kimberly Britt, who attended the competition for the primary time on Sunday, was ecstatic about stepping into along with her household.
However after listening to about Saturday’s site visitors mishaps, she wished to be in line as early as doable.
“We’re like, we higher get right here early,” Britt stated.
The occasion, which was held on the Clay County Fairgrounds on State Highway 16, even led Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook to call the situation “unacceptable” on Saturday.
Simply earlier than 4 p.m., the Clay County Sheriff’s Workplace even resorted to closing the competition’s entry gates attributable to security issues.
For the previous few years, we’ve gone forwards and backwards with the promoter in regards to the safety and site visitors wants for the Strawberry Pageant. A few years in the past, they actually employed 2 deputies to work the occasion. Though they’ve elevated the variety of off-duty deputies, that is nonetheless not acceptable. Our deputies have been on the market all day with no breaks. We’ve needed to name in on-duty personnel to help. That is unacceptable…I’m assigning extra ‘on responsibility’ personnel tomorrow.
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook dinner
In preparations for Sunday, the Clay County Sheriff’s workplace informed News4JAX:
“There are further deputies which were assigned to the occasion and assist the site visitors stream. We now have Sheriff’s Command Workers working as an incident commander for all the occasion and logistical help for our deputies working the occasion is guaranteeing reduction and wanted provides are supplied.”
CCSO added that an on-scene member can be accumulating knowledge and details about the occasion for a radical assessment and debrief post-festival.
Plus, a PIO was assigned to offer realtime updates.
Sheriff Cook dinner additionally stated that if the competition couldn’t rent sufficient employees for a full and complete site visitors plan, CCSO wouldn’t help it, noting that taxpayers shouldn’t must pay for a personal vendor occasion.
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