Posted on 07/01/2002 10:16:21 AM PDT by 45Auto
Saying too many people have been injured in the cross-fire, Fort Mitchell has banned using squirt guns and water balloons at its annual Fourth of July parade.
“Last year, some people got overzealous and threw frozen water balloons,” said Fort Mitchell City Administrator Bill Goetz. “There was some minor bruising, so we've notified this year's participants that we're not allowing any water apparatus at all.”
The water fights started about five years ago when firefighters in the parade pumped water into the air. By the next year, the crowd came armed with its own water weapons and was shooting back.
“It started off with squirt guns, then it went to Super Soakers, then it progressed to people on both sides with garden hoses who soaked (parade participants) as they went by,” Chief Hensley said.
Still other spectators came prepared with “coolers full of water balloons,” that they lobbed at parade participants, Fort Mitchell Council Member Kathy Groob said.
One casualty of last year's Independence Day water fights was the police chief's wife, who suffered a bruised shoulder while passing out candy along the parade route.
“Not only was she hit with a water balloon, but it was a water balloon that was frozen,” Chief Hensley said. “That's like being hit with a rock.”
Other victims have included a clarinet player who was hit in the mouth, Ms. Groob said.
A Fort Mitchell council member and his family also were lobbed with water balloons as they rode by in a convertible. And a tuba player had a frozen water balloon lodged in his instrument.
Anyone who disobeys the ban on squirt guns and Super Soakers could be found in violation of a city law that prohibits interfering with a parade or its participants.
People throwing frozen water balloons also could face charges of disorderly conduct or assault, subjecting them to fines and jail time, said Fort Mitchell Police Chief Steve Hensley.
While police hope to avoid any arrests, Fort Mitchell officials say that plainclothes deputies will be on the lookout for any parade participants or spectators who squirt or spray water, or anyone who lobs water balloons.
As they did last year, city officials also are encouraging parade participants who throw candy to toss it behind the curb to keep spectators from dashing in front of floats.
“We want people to have fun and enjoy themselves, but safety has to come first,” Chief Hensley said. “It probably started out as good fun, then it got a little out of hand,” said Fred Bassett, superintendent of Beechwood Independent Schools.
Absolute meatballs...and now they wonder why you need to ban ALL of the water activities?
Seriously, I do think this makes sense as it seems that the thing has gotten way out of hand. At the very least, it's annoying to be at an event and get squirted with water, and then when you add children and hoses and frozen balloons, etc., the city does need to make some rules. IMHO, this is sensible under the circumstances.
If the crowd can be disarmed, the firefighters ought to be disarmed as well.
And you know how much it hurts to get anything lodged in your instrument.
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