Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for August 10, 2007 "THE GATHERING"

ICP attracts Juggalos & Juggalettes from far and wide to their eighth annual "Gathering".

As an OLD Beatles fan, I've never listened to the ICP, but ya gotta love the name! It could so appropriately be applied to a lot of groups that I've seen over the years!! Current contenders for the appellation would be the IL General Assembly and the Governor!!!

From the Southern Illinoisan...

Juggalos have 'been nothing but good'

By Bethany Krajelis, The Southern

CAVE-IN-ROCK - Sitting under a tree in his front yard, Clarence Dixon said he spent most of Thursday watching hundreds of decorated cars with license plates ranging from Alabama to Wyoming enter the venue that is hosting the Insane Clown Posse's eighth annual "Gathering," which started Thursday and ends Sunday.

"So far they've been nothing but good," Dixon said, adding that he believes the handful of residents and church leaders who expressed concern over the band's festival overreacted. "They might give us trouble before they leave, but they probably won't."

Issues over the band's lyrics and rowdy reputation created a stir among ICP fans, also known as Juggalos or Juggalettes. Thousands of the rap group's fans are expected to congregate at a privately owned site near Cave-In-Rock for a four-day festival, which includes more than a hundred musical performances, carnival rides, wrestling and camping.

As an ambulance sped by, Dixon said this festival has been quieter than the Hog Rock motorcycle festivals that have taken place in past years. The only noise, Dixon said, was when concert-goers played music in their vehicles during a traffic jam that he said lasted from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

He said he saw two ambulances drive to the venue Thursday. An employee with Tenable Protective Services, the company hired to patrol the venue, said one person was treated for heat exhaustion and another had a seizure.

The atmosphere surrounding the venue Thursday afternoon appeared to be calm and organized. Dozens of security personnel from Tenable Protective Services were scattered throughout the large site. They said media representatives were not allowed in the venue or main parking lot.

On the rural roads leading up the concert, six police cars were parked to conduct a roadside safety check and several others were patrolling the nearby area.

Two people were arrested Thursday afternoon for possession of marijuana, said Illinois State Police Master Sgt. David Baker. He said a few citations for seat belt violations were written during the safety check, which was scheduled to last six hours.

Sitting in a car near the safety check, Mauro Davoli of Massachusetts said he was waiting for officers to give him a seat belt citation and didn't appear to be happy about it.

"This already ruined my day," Davoli said, as he yelled at police officers out the window claiming the safety check was illegal. "They just want my money. They're just trying to get rid of ICP and make myself look bad and make them look good."

Chris Slaughter, 20, of Virginia ran into his own roadblock Thursday.

After making the trek from Virginia to Southern Illinois, his 1987 Mazda truck broke down less than 100 yards from the venue's parking lot. Wiping sweat off his forehead, Slaughter was able to start his vehicle, and said he wasn't going to worry until "The Gathering" ended Sunday.

Until then, he said he was ready to have some fun with his Juggalo family, adding that "we're normal people who listen to weird music."

Dixon's stepson, Tommy Dutton, passed out a pamphlet titled, "It's simple to be saved," to concert-goers outside Dixon's home on Lamb Road. Dutton, a pastor at Keeling Hill General Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, said it was a good opportunity to reach a lot of people.

He said he passed out about 700 fliers Thursday and received a "wonderful" response from ICP fans.

"A lot of them let me know they are Christians," he said. "A lot of them have been a lot nicer than Christians I know."

Down the road at the Fast Stop, owner Dennis Kaegi said Juggalos have not only increased his business, but have been "nice and polite." In fact, he said the only rude people that came into his store Thursday were a pastor and a state trooper, neither of whom he would name.

Chris Pereira and his brother Mark made the trek from Canada to attend "The Gathering." They said this year's event will be their fourth.

"We follow them where they go" he said. "They are just awesome."

While the brothers said they understood some locals were concerned about the concert taking place in the small community, with a population under 400, Mark Pereira said the message behind ICP's music is about "togetherness."

"I would tell everybody here from Southern Illinois not to worry," Chris Pereira said. "I'm 28. I have two beautiful children at home. It would seem like I'm not the right person for this, but I just can't stay away."