By Mark David Blum, Esq.

There is a ghoulish new display at the Fairgrounds. Side by side with resurrection of Governor's Day, the display is weird and out of place. Its purpose is a mystery.

Ghoulish displays are no longer limited to displays. This is the fourth year in a row that someone was killed on the opening of the Fair. Four years ago, a man was hit by a train and the corpse was thrown all the way into the grandstands. Three years ago a fair worker was killed by falling debris. Two years I heard it was a heart attack. Today, seven people headed to the fair were crushed under an overpass.

By serendipity I was sharing a moment with ranking Fair administrators when the first call came in. I had to leave but the institution got itself organized and responded.

Sadly, the tradition of the first day death continues. This is one Fair tradition I would like to see ended permanently.