I have heard from a couple of reliable sources that the aggregate company that wants to buy the fairgrounds has been circulating a presentation on different concepts of what to do with the old quarry once they leave it and start using the fairgrounds quarry (if the sale is successful). One concept is a quarry lake hotel like they recently opened in China. It is probably highly unlikely since it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to construct and somewhat funny that they are even throwing the idea around. As I told someone about the concept, “It’s kinda of like what we were promised with the Denty and instead we got a polished (dented) turd.”

A few years back on a couple of occasions there was a very public push for a concrete company in Sioux Falls wanting to buy the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds because of the rich quarry reserves below. It was rejected by the County Commission. The fairgrounds are county property, and while they do have some infrastructure cost sharing with the city, the actual property was gifted to the County by the Lyon family. I may be wrong on my history but I think when the land was gifted for the fair it was farmland out of the city limits.

There were two issues with the sale a few years ago. 1) The Lyon family did NOT want it sold for a quarry and 2) The County didn’t have a plan to replace the fairgrounds.

Moving forward, the company has supposedly renewed their appeal for the property, according to one of my county sources. This time around they are claiming the Lyon family is on board, but my source is telling me the commission cannot approve the sale because the commission’s counsel has told them they cannot legally sell it for that use. The other issue is where will the SE Fair be moved to? And what would it cost to replace the grounds? The suggestion floating around is to just put a big tent up each year for the fair. How festive in a 1920’s Ringling Brothers sort of way.

While I could care less if we have a fair each year (just brings up bad memories of being in 4-H and how much I hated it) my concern is having a gigantic hole in west central Sioux Falls. I also wonder what the city would think about that attractive hole?

We will see how public and transparent this battle becomes.

While one of his other opponents is busy selling overpriced American motorcycles, David has been working the crowd this week at the SE Fair. I spoke with David at the Fair Monday night, he said the response to his candidacy has been ‘Very Positive’ and people are looking forward from moving on from the current administration. Thank God for term limits!

Chuck Brennan proposed to the Fair Board that he wanted to sponsor the SE Fair next year.  He wants to market the fair next year through his TV shows, radio station, reality show and other media associated with his mega pawnshop.  If the SEF doesn’t buy the advertising package they would not be able to hire Hairball a la carte for SEF 2016.

It sounds like an all or nothing deal.

I haven’t seen the actual proposal yet, but as I understand it the Fair Board will probably reject the plan.

The irony of it all is that the fair is right before the 2016 election in which a payday initiative may be on the ballot.

I want the one with crack in it’s head!

Two Sioux Empire Fair carnival workers have been arrested after police intercepted a package containing 37 grams of crack cocaine.

On Saturday, Sioux Falls Police were tipped off by Texas authorities about a shipment of drugs that was headed to the area.

Police were able to intercept the package before it was delivered and found a Lalaloopsy doll inside. Inside the head of the doll was 37 grams of crack cocaine.

Police repackaged the doll and the drugs and delivered it to a southwest Sioux Falls hotel. The man who received the package claimed it was for a friend.

Authorities ultimately arrested both men, 35-year-old Louis Frank Deak of Lawton, Oklahoma and 55-year-old John Thomas Whitfield Jr. of Houston, Texas.

Police say both men worked in the ‘kiddie land’ area at the Sioux Empire Fair.

Deak and Whitfield face numerous drug charges and will be in court Monday afternoon.

“Mommy! Those two guys running Kiddie Land are really hyper, and a little sweaty!”