By Don Rutledge
FPS Associate Editor
July 8, 2008

One of the contestants in the outlaw motorcycle race event at the Carroll County Fair is Chris Corcoran of Follansbee, WV, who is shown above astride his 2008 RMZ 250, which he races, along with his RMZ 450 bike. Standing with Corcoran are James Rininger (left), Carroll County Agricultural Society member, and Brandon Wagner, representing his father, Brian Wagner, a promoter of the new event at the fair this year.

The 158th annual Carroll County fair will kick off with pari-mutual harness racing Monday evening, July 14, for a six-day run through Sunday, July 20.

Fair Board President Ed Trushel says he hopes people will take advantage of the fair week passes (memberships) for $16, which entitles the holder to admission to the fair anytime.

“This not only saves the folks attending the fair money, it also supports the Fair Board,” Trushel added.

A new attraction at this year’s fair will be an outlaw motorcycle race Wednesday evening, July 16, in front of the grandstand. The event, which is open to all area motorcycle racers, is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. with registration starting at 3 p.m. and practice runs at 5 p.m.

Returning for a Saturday night grandstand show will be Mike Albert and his Big E band who includes Mitch Fox of Carrollton, keyboardist and backup singer. Albert, a hometown boy, says he will do several tunes from his 1993 Aloha concert in Hawaii, which include “I’ll Remember You” and “Blue Hawaii”.

Another new attraction will be Mike Bishop, a comedy hypnotist, who will perform at three shows, scheduled for 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Friday, July 18, at the show tent at the south end of the fairgrounds.

Trushel also reminds fair goers the second of the series of commemorative baskets will be available for purchase at $45 each. The first nine will be sold at each of the three junior fair auctions, including the Still Project auction Wednesday evening, the large animal sale Friday evening and the small animal sale on Saturday afternoon. Each of the baskets are numbered and make excellent gifts or keep sakes.

Single admission to this year’s fair remains at $7 and memberships and exhibitors tickets (fair passes) are the same $16 price. There will be free admission until 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and senior citizens (65 and older) will be admitted free all day Tuesday.

Fair memberships and passes may be purchased at the Secretary’s office at the south (lower) end of the fairgrounds which is now open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at the following locations: Carroll County Recorder’s office in the courthouse, Little’s Store in New Harrisburg, Perry Post in Perrysville and Jim Long’s store on 2nd St. SE.

Fair Board officials point out you must be 18 years of age and a resident of Carroll County to purchase a fair membership. Otherwise, you may buy an exhibitors band for the same price ($16). Memberships allow the holder to vote at the annual Fair Board’s election in October.

Exhibitor passes area available to persons of any age and those who exhibit animals or goods at the fair who are not residents of Carroll County. They also allow for daily admittance to the fair. However, those holding memberships and exhibitor tickets may pay an additional fee to ride the mechanical rides.

All persons two years of age and older must have a ticket, except for members of the military in uniform and residents of the Carroll County Golden Age Retreat.

Handicap parking will be available adjacent to Gate 1 at the southeast corner of the fairgrounds. Also Fair board officials said a golf cart shuttle for handicapped will be available from Gate 1 to the midway.

All vehicles must enter the fairgrounds from the south (lower) gate off SR 9 and exit from the north gate near the county garage. The fairgrounds is located on N. Lisbon St. (SR 9), just north of downtown Carrollton.
Entry Deadlines

Although all of the open class animal entry deadline are past, the deadline for horticulture is 4 p.m. Monday, July 14. Deadlines for entries for the Tuesday and Friday flower shows is 9 a.m. each of those days, according to Fair Board Secretary Tammy Sanderson.

The secretary’s office, located at the south end of the fairgrounds will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. now through Sunday, July 13, and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. the week of the fair.

A complete list of the various fair events, including the daily senior fair and junior fair schedules and tent show entertainment, is published in a 36-page tabloid in this week’s issue of The Free Press Standard.