Commissioners Remain Opposed To Road Rally

Crawford County commissioners remain opposed to the 100 Acre Rally in the Wood event, which they nixed April 20.

Following negative feedback from March’s race, commissioners told event organizer Curt Faigle that it was no longer welcome in Crawford County.

In the months that have followed, commissioners have continued to deal with the fallout from their decision.

Jim Ealer, Jr., spoke in favor of the race to commissioners during the spring, but they remain unmoved.

Presiding Commissioner Leo Sanders says he will play everyone a message left on his voicemail from a concerned citizen who lives in Dent County, but part of his farm extends into Crawford County.

The citizen was unhappy with what transpired during the 2021 race.

“It’s a good message,” said Sanders, who told the Independent News he’s received 10 phone calls opposing the race to about “four or five” supporting it.

“People who live (where the race is staged) don’t want it,” Sanders said.

During the April 20 meeting, the commission was asked if they have tried to leverage the event for economic gain or studied what effect it has on sales tax revenue.

Sanders told the Independent News last week he has done his homework and doesn’t feel the revenue is worth it.

“There’s not that much revenue,” he said.

Sanders said he has talked to the Dent County commission, where most of the race is staged.

“I was told it’s very important there,” he said.  “It’s headquartered there. It has been a moneymaker for them. People rent rooms, eat and buy parts.”

Sanders pointed out since Dent County is where most of the action is, that’s where spectators will go.

“I feel I’ve made the right choice. I’m going to get hammered for it,” he said.

Several residents made their feelings known to event organizers back in April.

Former sheriff’s deputy Mike Pendleton said residents who live on Cherry Valley Road were never informed that Wednesday, March 18, would be a testing day.

Calls began coming in to Pendleton at 6:30 a.m.

Drivers were already on the streets, confusing residents.

No 911 dispatchers knew that drivers would be on the streets.

Dogs were struck, driveways were blocked and a woman who needed to go to a doctor’s appointment couldn’t make it out.

Pendleton took event organizers to task for miscommunication and lack of security.