The biggest weekend in DeWitt County is upon us for 2014, which makes for a major challenge for Clinton and DeWitt County law enforcement offices.
With yearly attendance for the annual Apple and Pork Festival between 80 and 100-thousand people, the city of Clinton's population grows exponentially this time each, but according to Clinton Chief Ben Lowers, the amount of criminal activity in the community does not. The Chief attributes this to the nature of the festival.
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Given the spike in traffic and the amount of people looking for somewhere to park in a small area of the city, the Chief says residents handle the weekend very well. He also notes the amount of disturbances are usually at a minimum.
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For better than 25 years, former Clinton Police Chief Mike Reidy coveted a formula he would use to estimate the crowds, and it took nearly 50 weeks from the previous festival for him to pass along to Chief Lowers to use for this year's event.
Full coverage of the 2014 Apple and Pork Festival can be heard all weekend on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW and on 95.9 FM WEZC.
WEZC will broadcast the event while Eastern Illinois football is on WHOW Saturday. Game time for Panther football is 1 pm, as EIU travels to Ohio. Pregame will begin at 12:30.
Apple and Pork coverage on the Miller Media Group radio stations gets underway Saturday morning at 10 am and lasts until 5 pm. Then Sunday tune in to WHOW for coverage from 11 am to 4 pm.
