Published: September 16, 2008 09:56 pm      

Mayor says contest organizers to blame for skate contest shutdown

Some cried foul after Beckley police shut down a skate contest at Beckley Freedom Park Saturday night, but the mayor says contest organizers did not follow the city’s rules.

Mayor Emmett Pugh said the city approved a skate contest for Saturday, but organizers were told to not have live bands. Once city officials found out bands were playing at the contest, police were sent to shut down the event around 9 p.m.

“It’s a shame that this hurt the kids over there,” Pugh said. “We have received complaints at the city’s Web site.

“We are sorry we had to shut the event down, but this is not our fault.”

Pugh said Beckley real estate agent Kristy Zaferatos, identified by both Pugh and Police Chief Tim Deems as the event’s organizer, approached Beckley P.D. about having the skate contest, and police personnel notified him. But exactly who was responsible for bringing in bands was unknown.

Last year, Pugh explained, a skate contest at the park which featured live bands resulted in numerous complaints from residents near King Tut Drive-In. The amount of noise and bass from a live band carries into the neighborhood.

“We are not going to have bands. It creates too much noise,” Pugh said. “If they want to have a sound machine or a boombox, that’s fine. But it can’t be obtrusive to neighbors.

“They were strictly told, ‘No live music.’”

Deems said police received a complaint after 9 p.m. A band was playing and a “good-sized crowd” was assembled when officers arrived to tell those gathered the park was closed. Beckley Freedom Park is supposed to be closed at dark.

“The city tries to be a good neighbor when it comes to the parks,” he said. “Anyone who organizes an event there has to get approval. There was no live band permitted.”

Capt. Tomi Peck, who spearheaded efforts to have the park built, said city officials had no idea a band was coming. Any time a band is playing and crowds are gathered, there needs to be a police presence.

“If you have 200-plus kids and bands, we want to be able to tell parents we have everything under control.”

Raleigh County’s noise ordinance is not in effect until 10 p.m. However, that was a moot point, Peck said, because there was no permission to have a band in the first place.

The park’s lights are timed to go off between 9 and 9:30 p.m., Peck said. Lights went out while officers were on the scene.

Pugh said he is willing to talk with anyone who wants to sponsor an event at the skate park — provided they are willing to comply with the rules.

“We want the kids to utilize this park, but there are certain rules that have to be adhered to,” he said.

The Register-Herald contacted Kristy Zaferatos for comment, but she would only release a statement.

“I have come to the conclusion that you can’t stress over things we have no control over,” she said. “Life goes on.”

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