By Mark David Blum

Unlike previous years, the State Police this year have proven themselves, at least to my satisfaction, to be above reproach, to be calm and friendly, and not to have too much of an attitude. This is to their credit and which adds a great deal to the Fair experience and enjoyment.

Unfortunately, the State Fair security personnel have no such professionalism. They are a bunch of 8 foot tall, 300 pound, bald headed goons in black t-shirts that spend a great deal of their time trying to prove their machismo by shooting off their big mouths to harass and annoy fairgoers. Obviously poorly trained and given a single order; these “to rule” bubbas add little to Fair security and a great deal to the stress and annoyance that can truly kill the best Fair buzz. While I am sure their job at times is not easy; at least they could be trained in human interaction before being daily released from their cages.

The best example of this was last night outside the Main gate to the Fairgrounds at about 9:00 p.m. While hanging out there awaiting the arrival of a friend, all of a sudden there is a commotion.

“Sir; Stop”, I hear and turn to look and see a black shirted pig starting to run after the throngs of people who are leaving the fairgrounds at that time. I keep hearing him yell “stop” but wonder which of the several hundred people he was addressing.

Then I see the black shirt grab a young man by the throat and collar and drag him back to the main gate. Obviously intoxicated but causing no harm, the rules committee decided this kid was to be grabbed by the throat for the horrendous crime of removing a wine slushie through the front gate. Beer, that is OK but don’t you dare bring a wine slushie.

Like most, a friend of the kid who was grabbed really got pissed off at the way his friend had been manhandled by the O’Hara storm troopers. The friend, likewise intoxicated, suddenly grew himself a set of beer muscles and tore into the security guards for choking his friend and for the way he had been treated. Of course, the security dipshit denied grabbing the kid by the throat.

That was when I could take it no more and stepped up and spoke up. I told the supervisor that the guard did indeed grab the kid by the throat and was acting like a colossal asshole. Meanwhile, I grabbed his friend and walked him backwards and out of the way because his mouth was getting louder and his aggressiveness was growing. Furious but way outmatched, I was able to walk the other kid aside all the while explaining that it wasn’t worth it. I explained he could not win and he and his buddy would be seriously hurt if they kept up arguing.

In the end, the kid with the slushie went back inside to finish his drink, I spoke with the his friend and the Sgt. of the State Police who had arrived about who did what to whom. Fortunately, the Statie allowed me to walk his friend over to the busses to wait for the other guy. Just as fast, it was over. I can only hope that the friend inside the gate with the slushie kept his mouth shut, finished his drink, and then left. If not, I bet his bruises will be pretty in the morning.

After being sure the kid was calmed down, I gave him my card and told him if I can help to let me know. I said for him to wait until tomorrow, and then write letters, make phone calls, and take his story to the internet. Only through the sharing of such information will Dan O’Hara’s WaffenSS be neutralized and the Fair returned to its rightful owners … US.