CarnivalMidways.Com

Source – News Talk 1450AM KDKW

Puyallup, WA – April 21, 2009 – After a thorough investigation by governmental and independent private investigators specializing in amusement rides, the contributing factor for the Lolli Swing incident at the Spring Fair in Puyallup on April 17, 2009 was determined to be deteriorating soil conditions. This is the first case of a soil-related incident with this or any ride since Funtastic Rides, Inc.’s inception in the early 1950s. The Fair has no record of such an occurrence in its 109 years.

A total of 16 riders were on the Lolli Swing at the time of the incident, including two adults and 14 children. While six were transported to area hospitals for evaluation, all were released that same day with minor injuries.

The unseasonably wet winter, coupled with strong rain cells that moved through Puyallup from 12:58 to 1:53 p.m., and 2:23 to 3:28 p.m. creating an unusual situation of too much moisture in too short of a time. The blocking installed for the ride exceeded the requirements, but still was not adequate for the highly unusual rainfall that added to an already drenched ground.

The weight of the Lolli Swing ride rests on the ground with support legs located at the four corners of the ride, as well as being supported with the trailer wheels, which were visible after the ride tilted on its front side.

Washington State Certified Ride Inspector John Hinde, J.P. Hinde Enterprises, Inc. of Port St. Lucie, Florida has presented the findings to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Investigators from the United States Consumer Protection Safety Commission conducted a study on Sunday, in addition to investigations by several other governmental and municipal entities. It was concluded that both the ride and the person operating the ride performed correctly.

Components of the ride were disassembled, inspected and tested to obtain hard information in determining the cause of this incident. Operational systems were tested to determine that there were no ride system or structural failures. They did not find any manufacturer defects that would have caused the incident, and concluded that the ride did not malfunction.

Immediately after the incident Puyallup Police representatives interviewed the two ride operators, and found no signs of impairment. They voluntarily tested for drugs and alcohol, and they were clear of any substance in their systems. The lead operator has operated that ride for several years.

Representatives from the Italian ride manufacturer have arrived, and are currently reviewing the findings and conducting their own investigation. Funtastic Rides, Inc. anticipates working with the manufacturer on developing ride base outriggers in addition to the current support legs, in order to widen the ride base support load footprint.

While this is a very isolated incident, Funtastic Rides, Inc. will share the information and findings from this investigation with amusement ride inspectors, operators, and amusement industry trade organizations. The investigation, reports and findings will also continue.

The Spring Fair in Puyallup first started in 1990. The Puyallup Fair is slated for Sept. 11-27, 2009. For further information, visit http://www.thefair.com/ or call the 24-hour hotline at (253) 841-5045.

Source: West Fargo Pioneer

Games Galore Party Rental has announced a partnership with Murphy Brothers Exposition to provide midway entertainment. Gerald Murphy, Murphy Brothers Chairman, said, “We’re looking forward to having Games Galore included with the great Murphy Brothers midway. Combining the inflatables and the new Mega Pass will appeal to all age groups.” The reason for the partnership stemmed from a growing number of requests. “Fair board members throughout the upper midwest have requested numerous times that they would like carnivals and inflatable companies to work together to provide the midway atmosphere,” said Dave Lerud, President of Games Galore.

Games Galore will provide the inflatables for fairs throughout North Dakota including West Fargo, Bottineau, Devils Lake, Grand Forks, Minot and Pembina and Wells counties. The state fairs in New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Wisconsin will have the Games Galore inflatables as a part of their midway.

Lerud predicts that the inflatable games trend for town festivals and carnivals will continue to grow. “We are seeing more and more civic organizations switch from traditional carnival games to inflatable games,” Lerud said. “Today’s families are more attracted to the active-style games rather than sit-down games.” Games Galore has also seen this trend carry over to events they have hosted for schools, churches, businesses and private parties.

For more information, visit Games Galore Party Rental online at gamesgalorepartyrentals.com or Murphy Brothers Expositions at murphybrothersexpositions.com.

Robert Boyer / Times-News

On the advice of County Attorney Clyde Albright, Sheriff Terry Johnson reversed his earlier position and has allowed a carnival to open in east Burlington against the wishes of county fair operators Russell and Jeanette Isley.

Citing a state law that directs sheriffs to deny a permit to carnivals and similar amusements that want to set up shop within 30 days of a county’s “regularly advertised agricultural fair,” the Isleys initially convinced Johnson to prevent the Powers Great American Midways from setting up on the northeast corner of Graham-Hopedale Road and North Church Street.

But sheriff’s spokesman Randy Jones said the sheriff is taking Albright’s advice “after new information apparently came to light.”

The carnival set up Monday and will run through Sunday. The county fair will open May 5 and continue through May 10.

The sheriff initially sided with the fair after the Burlington City Council rejected a similar request from the Isleys to deny the carnival a city permit two weeks ago.

During that meeting, Jeanette Isley said she kept the dates of her fair secret to keep carnivals from setting up around the same time. Such carnivals take customers from her fair, which she said is in danger of “extinction.”

John Paisley, an attorney who represents the owners of the former Western Electric parking lot the carnival leases, said the Isleys’ decision to move the fair from August to May and wait until April 8 to notify a state fair association of the new dates runs counter to the law’s requirement that a fair be regularly advertised.

Paisley said he wrote Albright a “lengthy letter” on the subject.

Albright said Paisley also pointed out another state law that requires the county commissioners to give the sheriff notice 60 days before a county fair if they refuse to allow a carnival to operate in the county.

“I agree with him. He’s convinced me,” Albright said Monday. “The sheriff, in my opinion, cannot refuse” to allow the carnival to operate because Isley “changed her dates.”

Based on this new information, Johnson will follow Albright’s advice, sheriff’s spokesman Randy Jones said.

Attempts to reach the Isleys on Tuesday were unsuccessful. Isley family member Rusty Isley asked the county commissioners about the situation during the board’s meeting Monday night, and was instructed to speak with Albright afterward.

Carnival owner Les Powers said he has brought a midway to Burlington for 12 years. In that time, he said he has never had a problem with the Dogwood Festival in Mebane, which operates around the same time.

On the other hand, Jeanette Isley “has an ax to grind” against him, Powers said. “It seems like every time I try to do something (in Burlington) this lady tries to block it.”

by Fred Afflerbach – Temple Daily Telegram

Running away with the carnival was more than just a fantasy for this dirt-poor Arkansas boy.

At age 7, Kenny Maple left home and tagged along with the Gala Exposition Show. And every summer until he graduated high school, Maple returned to work under the carnival’s flashing lights and bright paint. Traveling across several Southern states, Maple worked his way up from the cork gun booth to operating the Ferris wheel.

Maple brings his own carnival, Kenny’s Funland, to the Bloomin’ Temple Festival this weekend.

Looking back on 50 years of setting up, putting on a show, tearing down and moving on, Maple said he wouldn’t change a thing. He’s enjoyed a life others only imagine.

Back when riding the Ferris wheel cost a dime, a carnival owner named Bert Miller took young Kenny under his wing.

“We came from a very, very poor family. My father didn’t have two nickels to rub together,” Maple said. “When school was out, he (carnival owner Miller) would come and get me. He always brought me back and made sure I was in good shape. Probably, if it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t have made it through school.”

One summer, Maple met a young lady at the carnival – Jeanne Gala. Her great-great-grandparents ran a carnival in the early 1900s and her father owned an interest in the carnival where Maple worked.

They got married in 1968, Maple took charge of the carnival, and they moved to South Texas. In 1980, he bought three old kiddy rides and built his own carnival from there. Today, Jeanne runs the ticket booth.

Looking back, Maple said he saw the country through a young man’s eyes when life on the road was safe and simple.

One night, on a lonely Missouri highway, one of the trucks broke down. While one man drove to town for parts, Maple and others stretched out on the side of the road and gazed into the heavens.

They saw something strange.

“We sat there maybe 30-40 minutes talking about the stars, how bright they was. Pretty soon, one of them went this way, and the other went the other way,” Maple said. “We had no idea if they was stars or if they was something different.”

Maple’s circus today travels from deep South Texas to Iowa. They are booked at a rodeo, a snake-hunting festival and numerous county fairs every weekend until October.

Maple said, yes, carnival workers are misfits, but behind the stereotype often lies a person who needs a second chance. In years past, when someone joined the outfit they also joined the family.

“In the carnival business, you take care of your own,” Maple said. “When a man came to work, the first thing he was asked, ‘Are you hungry?’ I tried to instill some of those times into this carnival. But those days are gone now.”

Temple Chamber of Commerce president Ken Higdon said Kenny’s Fun Land came recommended. In four years, it’s the only carnival that’s worked the Bloomin Temple Festival.

Maple hires some local folks when he brings his carnival to town.

Last year, Tiffany Ansley hired on. When the carnival hit the road she did too. Back home this weekend, she dusted shelves at the pop-gun booth. At age 25, she said working for a carnival was a good place to be. She earns about $300 a week, and gets paid lodging on the road.

Ansley said carnival workers are misunderstood.

“Carnival people are not like what they say. We work for our money,” Ansley said. “It feels like I’m supposed to be doing this. Seeing kids smile makes the job worth it.”

Her boss agrees.

“Just seeing those kids enjoy themselves, that’s what keeps you going,” Maple said.

But the question now is how long can Maple keep it up. Because he suffers from diabetes, his son, John, mostly runs the show. And with the rides computer activated, that’s OK with Maple.

Nevertheless, come early next week Kenny’s troops will fold up the tents and hit the road for another town.

By Robert Boyer / Times-news

Sheriff Terry Johnson says he won’t grant a permit allowing the Powers Great American Midways to operate a carnival in Burlington from April 16 through April 25.

Johnson said he made his decision Thursday afternoon after consulting with County Attorney Clyde Albright.

The move is the latest development in a dispute between Les Powers and Jeanette Isley. Powers is the president of Powers Great American Midways; Isley and her family run the Alamance County Fair, which is scheduled for May 5-10.

On Tuesday, Isley asked the Burlington City Council to reject a city permit request from Powers.

Isley said she moved her fair from August after making arrangements with another carnival operator and securing a state license in January, but kept her plans “secret” because an announcement would have encouraged rival carnivals to come to the county around the same time.

Six carnival operators refused her requests to come in the fall; the operator she contracted done extensive billboard advertising for May and she can’t change the dates, Isley said.

Carnivals like Powers drain customers from her fair and don’t return any dollars to the community, she added.

Council members sympathized with her plight, but voted 4-0 to grant the permit after saying the carnival company met the city’s safety and insurance liability requirements.

The sheriff refused her requests to intervene, Isley told the council before the vote.

Councilman David Huffman said the city ordinance had nothing to do with competitive issues or the state law and suggested Isley again seek relief from the sheriff.

Johnson said Thursday he took a wait-and-see position regarding Isley’s request, in hopes that the Burlington council would resolve the situation by denying Powers a permit.

Isley and her family have run the fair for 19 years, she said, mostly in the fall. Last year it ran in August.

AMI and Hopedale Properties own the former Western Electric parking lot at the northeast corner of North Church Street and Graham-Hopedale Road where the Powers carnival is scheduled to set up.

Their attorney, John Paisley, said he had seen no evidence that the fair is advertised and held at regular intervals, as statute 106-516.1 requires.

The Powers carnival is “a relatively small ride business that should be of little or no conflict” with Isley’s fair, he said.

“It’s like comparing apples and oranges,” Paisley said. “If they are so threatened by this tiny little carnival, then they probably aren’t going to make it anyway as an agricultural fair.”

On Thursday, Paisley faxed the Times-News a letter from the N.C. Association of Agricultural Fairs.

In it, Executive Secretary Bonnie Holloman said Isley called Wednesday and notified the association she had changed the county fair dates from August to May.

“If you don’t even notify the association until April 8 … how in the world can this be a regularly advertised agricultural fair?”

“My position is that it doesn’t require a permit at all” from the sheriff, Paisley said Thursday.

Although he is siding with Isley this year, the sheriff said he won’t block future permit requests from Powers or other carnival operators unless Isley announces her fair schedule “way in advance” to meet statutory requirements.

But given Isley’s contractual bind this year, “I’m going to have to let her run her fair,” Johnson said.

Despite the sheriff’s decision, Paisley thinks the situation is far from resolved, and said he will advise his clients “to encourage Powers to contact their counsel and fight it.”

“This is clearly a restraint of trade and therefore is unconstitutional,” he said.