Forces Marshalled for Punxsatawney Phil
The ClubHouse: Archives: Forces Marshalled for Punxsatawney Phil
Ocean_Islands | Friday, February 01, 2002 - 11:20 pm   Was Punxsatawney Phil a target of terrorist attacks? Apparently not. However, plenty of forces were at the ready, just in case: For Punxsutawney Phil, Plenty of Ground Forces Security Stepped Up for Groundhog Day Ritual Reuters Wednesday, January 16, 2002; Page A02 PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. -- State police, bomb-sniffing dogs and National Guard troops will be deployed here Feb. 2 to guard Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog whose shadow -- or lack thereof -- is cited every year as a predictor of winter weather. "We just never know what may pop up in these times, so we are getting prepared," said Jamie LeVier, a spokesman for the state police in Punxsutawney, a rural community about 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. LeVier said all knapsacks will be hand checked by police, and spectators will not be permitted to drive to the groundhog site. More than 100 school buses will be available to transport people. All passengers will be inspected as they enter the buses, Levier said. Bill Cooper, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, said he expects more than 30,000 spectators at this year's forecast event. If the groundhog can see its shadow on that day, legend has it, winter will last another six weeks. Phil, or his ancestors and predecessors, have been providing the service for 116 years. "There was only one year we did not have the event and that was in 1942 because we did not want to give our World War II enemies any favorable weather forecasts," Cooper said. Although some local residents had thought about canceling the event because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon, Cooper said that city leaders felt the event would show the nation's "resiliency." "Everything has changed in America, but Groundhog Day is one way of showing the world we are getting back to normal," Cooper said. © 2002 The Washington Post Company |
Schoolmarm | Saturday, February 02, 2002 - 04:54 pm   They needed extra security because of the HUGE party that is overnight in Punxy. I live in the next county to the north, and we have had extra security on our water supply because of the influx of visitors for the holiday. See my posts in "TO EVERYONE" in the members folders for some fun facts about Punxy and Ground Hog's day. Any time you have 30,000-35,000 people invading a small town on one day, you need to have extra security just for the public intoxication, and petty crimes. We have over 100,000 people come to our little town of 6,000 for Autumn leaf festival, and YES, there is extra security. And people can't park on the street or drive down most of the streets due to the congestion. There isn't convenient parking to Gobbler's Knob in Punxy, either! Gobbler's Knob was the place to be this morning...6 more weeks of winter! |
Whowhere | Friday, February 22, 2002 - 09:38 am   That's not always true schoolmarm. Since this article was written the Kentucky Derby has been denied federal security for this event that brings in 250,000 fans not including the 100,000 people who come here just to see the Pegasus Parade. Churchill downs wants federal protection for Derby January 10, 2002 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Churchill Downs and Louisville officials are seeking a special security status for this year's Kentucky Derby, hoping to gain federal help in protecting against a potential terrorist attack. The Super Bowl in New Orleans and Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City are the only events awarded national special security event status since it was extended to sporting events after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The city and Churchill Downs asked the Bush administration last month to grant the Derby that same designation, which requires the U.S. Secret Service to oversee security, with help from the FBI and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. ``There is no known threat,'' Mayor Dave Armstrong said. But the Derby's ``nature and size have the potential to make it a target,'' he said. The city's request includes the Kentucky Oaks and the Pegasus Parade. No deadline has been set for making a decision. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Treasury, which oversees the Secret Service, wouldn't comment on the status of Louisville's request. But some factors the government considers when awarding the status are existing security, the threat potential, the significance of the event and whether it's attended by dignitaries, officials said. Armstrong noted that more than 250,000 fans turn out at Churchill Downs each year for two days of nationally televised races, along with international dignitaries, wealthy thoroughbred owners and celebrities. Another 100,000 attend the Pegasus Parade. John Asher, a spokesman for Churchill Downs, agreed with Armstrong that while no trouble is expected, the special status would provide additional ``expertise and resources, should they be needed.'' Bob Pringle, a former CIA counterintelligence officer who teaches at the University of Kentucky, said it's reasonable to compare the Derby to the Super Bowl and Olympics. ``If you're a terrorist, you tend to hit targets for publicity and casualties,'' he said. ``If you're going to hit a target in Kentucky that had the maximum recognition, it would be the Derby.'' |
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