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Mill Residents Set Their Sight On Fest
By: Brad Hawley
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Mill Street residents are expecting tougher policing at the last street fest of the season.
The events of Palmer Fest may set the tone of the upcoming Mill Fest.
“I definitely think they are going to crack down,” Mill Street Resident Elliot Hebeler said. “Last year they would stand around out in the streets, but we weren’t doing anything wrong. We shut down the party by midnight when it needed to be quiet and they were happy.”
University and city officials met and decided Monday to allow Mill Fest to go as planned.
Those in the meeting say that allowing the fest may reduce the out of control behavior; although the fate of next year’s fests has not been determined at the meeting.
Some Mill Street residents say they are happy that the officials are allowing the fest to happen after the incident last weekend.
“I’m glad we’re having it still,” Senior Luke Read, a student living on Mill Street, said. “I think we really need a second chance to show we’re not a bunch of idiots setting stuff on fire.”
Palmer Fest has caused problems before.
In 2009, the fest ended when a couch, lawn furniture, and a wooden table was set ablaze in the middle of the street.
This year was more than just furniture.
One of the houses at 11 Palmer St. was set on fire around 7 p.m.
Mayor Paul Wiehl declared the area a riot zone allowing police to evacuate the partiers.
The property received minor damage but no one was injured.
The Captain of the Athens Fire Department ruled the fire arson and is offering up to $5,000 to anyone who has information leading to an arrest.
The fire at Palmer Fest has some residents are a bit on guard.
“We always know something is liable to happen. We are just not going to let anyone in [our] house,” Read said.
Other Mill Street residents say they will still allow friends and other partygoers into their houses.
“If anyone wants to stop in and say ‘hey’ and have some fun, you’re more than welcome to,” Hebeler said.
Ohio University has the infamous tag of the “number-one-party-school” in the nation but some students say that label is not entirely the fault of OU students.
Of the 124 arrested last weekend roughly half were from other schools.
“I think its really embarrassing, because I know kids from other schools all come down here and think there are no rules or laws,” Read said.
Hebeler and Read say they both want to have fun on the 12th.
Read has one simple rule, “Don’t mess with my house.”
https://woub.org/2012/05/02/athens-and-ou-plan-town-hall-meeting-light-pa…