Classified cancels, puts finishing touches on Eagles celebration
By Bob Robinson 

GREENVILLE – Due to likelihood of bad weather, which had been standard fare throughout the week’s Independence Day celebrations in Darke County, Greenville Eagles 2177 scheduled the July 5 performance of Classified in its large facility on Shade Road. 

“We were trying to play it safe,” said Eagles Worthy President Steffanie Baker. “Classified cancelled. They said they wouldn’t play indoors.” 

Noting that Classified plays most of its venues indoors, Baker said the group told her its “indoor” sound system wasn’t available. 

“I said no problem; we’ll open up the doors to the building. That’ll work,” she added. They told Baker at 6:30 on Friday they wouldn’t be playing. 

 “We didn’t want their equipment to get wet,” she added, noting also if it did rain and they had started playing outside, they would shut down and the Lodge would still be responsible for payment. “We were just taking reasonable precautions.” 

“We sold our chicken dinners – did very well, by the way… they were delicious – put up signs at Shade Road and opened up here at Downtown Greenville.” 

Baker noted that the local fraternal organization always makes the best of every situation. 

“We’re back here (on Third Street) enjoying our fellowship and looking forward to having Cotton here tomorrow night.” 

Classified cancelling was the second major blow to the organization. The first was being unable to present the fireworks as planned. 

Baker said “it was quite a blow” not being able to do this for the community. 

“We had the rug pulled out from under us,” she said. 

“This was our major community event of the year,” Baker added. “Families come out with their children. We provide music, games and a great fireworks show.” 

The Eagles staff and volunteers had been “working hard” and planning the event as they have in the past… “then two weeks prior to the event our funding was denied,” she said. 

Baker noted that as with most clubs, the Grand Aerie has the final word on the activities of its Eagles Lodges. 

“An agent from the Grand Aerie decided it was in our best interest not to spend the money,” she said. 

Undaunted, the Eagles officers then planned on providing the community with an outdoor concert and chicken dinners. Weather made outdoor plans inadvisable; the featured band declined the alternative. 

Baker said she hadn’t heard anything from the city regarding recent reports it was going to form a committee and work with local community organizations to make sure Greenville has fireworks in the future. 

Mayor Mike Bowers said since this had just happened he hadn’t had a chance to follow up with anyone. 

“To the best of my knowledge, the city has never been in charge of fireworks. It has always been by committee or through the Eagles,” Bowers said. 

He added he has been speaking with Fire Chief Mark Wolf and Darryl Riffle at the fairgrounds about the possibilities for 2014. The Eagles had held many of the fireworks shows at the fairgrounds prior to moving them to Shade Road. Part of the expense is paying for the people putting them on. 

“New Madison’s fireworks are put on by licensed members of their fire department. Just because you are a firefighter doesn’t mean you’re licensed to put on a fireworks show.” 

Bowers said his goal was to see that the citizens of Greenville had a fireworks show each year in the future. He added that his perspective was that future shows would be held closer to Greenville. 

Published courtesy of The Early Bird