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Rebuilding and Improving the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds

BLOOMSBURG – Lt. Governor Jim Cawley took a close look at the repairs made across the flood damaged fairgrounds in Bloomsburg Thursday, and said the impro...

BLOOMSBURG - Lt. Governor Jim Cawley took a close look at the repairs made across the flood damaged fairgrounds in Bloomsburg Thursday, and said the improvements were more than impressive, demonstrating the resilience of the community in Columbia County.

It's hard to picture that less than one year ago, the entire Bloomsburg Fairgrounds were covered in floodwaters.

Lt. Governor Jim Cawley said, "This is indeed a testament, to how when good people get together and are determined to get something done, it happens. "

Vendor Tom Hewlett said, "It`s amazing, the fairgrounds I mean you can't even tell there was a flood here, they look spotless.  The pavement is clean, don`t see any mud, the buildings are all fixed up and ready to go. "

Fair Director Paul Reichart has been a driving force behind cleaning up the damage, that's put the fair more than $1.3 million dollars in debt. He says cleaning up after lee has been a challenge.

Reichart said, "Just general clean up and repair here and there and all over the place, we lost computers over in the ticket office we lost all of the equipment in there."

Several markers show just how high the water rose around the fairgrounds, and lawmakers say they`re working hard to make sure the flood waters can never reach those levels in Bloomsburg again.

Lt. Governor Cawley says even though the Army Corp of Engineers say a floodwall is out of the equation, he sees other possibilities.

Lt. Governor Cawley said, "Just because the Army Corp of Engineers has said one thing doesn`t work, I think that`s actually an opportunity for us to make sure we are able to take even more people out of harms way through other programs that we are going to be exploring."

While vendors are focused on making the best of this year's fair.

Vendor Kathy Stewart said, "Everyone`s looking forward to the rebound of the fair. "

Hewlett said, "I actually think it will be a good year, i think there will be a lot of people here and it`s important for all the vendors, the town, the fair, for the vendors to have a good year. "

There is still more cleanup to do before the fair kicks off September 22nd. Bathrooms around the grandstand still need repaired, along with other minor details. The Fair Director says it's nothing they can't handle.

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