State Police: No checkpoints planned at Wakarusa Festival

A newspaper story saying four police checkpoints with drug dogs will be placed on roads near the Wakarusa Music Festival had festival organizers concerned about an early end to an event promising to bring more than 15,000 music lovers to western Arkansas.

It turns out the checkpoints were never part of the plans.

The sixth annual Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is set to be held on Mulberry Mountain near Ozark, June 4-7. From its inception in 2004 until 2008, the June festival was held just outside of Lawrence, Kan.

With previous ticket figures reaching above 20,000, the festival’s move to the area is anticipated to have a large economic impact on the River Valley. Wakarusa officials have said they expect 10,000-15,000 concert goers each day. An estimate on the impact the festival had on the Lawrence area was slated in the $8 million to $10 million range.

But according to a story in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Franklin County Sheriff Reed Haynes said the Arkansas State Police (ASP) would four checkpoints with drug dogs to check drivers as they enter and leave the festival grounds.

Wakarusa Director Brett Mosiman sent a note to Ozark area business and civic leaders saying an overly aggressive stance by law enforcement would not be good for the festival.

“Frankly, I have every reason to believe that this action will cost your state millions of dollars in tourism and could critically damage the state’s reputation as a wonderful tourist destination. So I ask, If you could, please voice your concern to your local officials (politicians, civic leaders and LE) that you believe this is an unnecessary and misguided law enforcement effort. One which sends exactly the wrong message to visitors about what Arkansas is about and one that will ultimately damage Arkansas in many ways,” Mosiman noted in the e-mail note. “You can also mention that it will chase away many future events that bring millions of dollars of economic benefit to the region. I really believe you will find that Wakarusa is an amazing event that could easily grow into one of the top 3 or 4 music and camping festivals in the country if it isn’t extinguished before it gets started.”

However, the newspaper story was wrong. The ASP does not have plans to post checkpoints.

Bill Sadler, spokesman for the Arkansas State Police, issued this statement Tuesday afternoon: “The plans associated with the music festival to be staged in Franklin County this week have been well publicized and there has been a continuing open dialogue between law enforcement and the promoter. In these discussions the promoter has acknowledged some expectations of a large audience that may number into the thousands. At this particular juncture in consideration of the crowds that may move into Franklin County this week, no special enforcement operations are planned unless a need may arise.”

SHARED CONCERN
Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce President Susan McIlroy said she understands Mosiman’s frustration because business owners in the Ozark area have complained about city police ticketing tourists.

“I have great respect for law enforcement, but I think we have to find a balance. Commerce in Ozark has definitely had an issue with visitors coming to town and not wanting to come back because they get ticketed,” McIlroy explained. “We spend a lot of money to get people to come in off the interstate. … But sometimes we don’t treat them like they are truly welcome.”

Mosiman and McIlroy said law enforcement is involved in the Wakarusa process to ensure festival goers follow the law. Mosiman told The City Wire that the law enforcement people with which he as worked have the same concerns — to provide a safe environment. But the newspaper story was the first he heard of checkpoints with drug-sniffing dogs.

“Everybody in Arkansas that I’ve worked with, even them (law enforcement), want the same same thing, and that’s for everyone to have fun in a safe environment,” Mosiman said. “At the same time we absolutely encourage them (Wakarusa attendees) to refrain from drinking and driving and if they don’t do that, then we would think the law enforcement here is ready to deal with them as they should.”