Ted Nugent performs during his 2019 tour. (Photo courtesy of tednugent.com)
UPDATE: RidgeFest cancelled over flash mob safety concerns
Editor’s note: Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar said Friday that RidgeFest originally set for July 28-30 was being cancelled for this year out of safety concerns as a result of the teen rampage last weekend at a carnival in Tinley Park. It’s the second area event called off because of the threat of teen flash mobs. Evergreen Park’s Most Holy Redeemer Parish called off its annual parish carnival set for mid-June earlier in the week citing the same safety concerns.
By Dermot Connolly
There will be no “Cat Scratch Fever” at RidgeFest this year after the Chicago Ridge Village Board did not approve the contract drawn up to bring Ted Nugent back to the popular summer festival being held July 28-30 at Freedom Park.
Nugent’s performances at RidgeFest in 2007, 2011 and 2013 drew big crowds. When it was announced The Motor City Madman would be returning this year, nearly 450 people “liked” the April 21 notice on the RidgeFest Facebook page.
However, due to Nugent’s vocal support of Donald Trump and vitriol toward Democrats, the thought of him returning drew criticism on Facebook, too. The announcement turned out to be premature, because the Village Board did not get a chance to vote on any of the RidgeFest entertainment contracts until the May 16 village board meeting.
Nugent’s contract was among 10 related to RidgeFest on the agenda, and Trustee Elaine Davenport asked for a separate vote on all of them because deposits had already been submitted for a few before the board saw them.
“I brought this up at time last year, and we were told changes would be made. But here we are again,” said Davenport, who said she had to resort to issuing Freedom of Information requests to even find out if deposits were made.
“It completely takes away from our role as trustees. We are not rubber stamps,” said Davenport. She pointed out that three re-elected trustees were sworn in earlier at the meeting—Bill McFarland, Roger Meslar and Jack Lind—and approving “unauthorized expenditures” goes against the ordinances they swore to uphold.
“I think we talked about that last year. I went through all of them and I could have questioned the language on some of these if we had a chance to see them earlier,” said Meslar.
While the contracts had not been signed, Mayor Chuck Tokar, who leads the RidgeFest organizing committee, acknowledged that deposits were made on a few with time constraints, including half put down on the $67,500 contract for Nugent.
“From what I have read, it doesn’t seem like the deposits are refundable,” said Meslar.
“There has been a deposit on Nugent but it is refundable,” said Tokar. “Generally, they are standardized contracts. But I have had a long-term relationship with these (booking agents) since we started doing this in 1989. We have never had a problem if we have canceled something.”
In the end, the board did approve most of the contracts. Some by a 6-0 margin for popular acts like the Jesse White Tumblers and Dave DiNaso’s reptile show. But music acts such as BTE and Listen to the Music were approved 4-3, with Tokar casting the tie-breaker. Only Davenport voted against Led Zeppelin II, a tribute band, again because of the down payment.
When Nugent’s contract came up for discussion, Meslar said he had concerns because the rider seemed to contract the main contract, and the language appeared to protect Nugent against responsibility if there were problems at the concert.
“That is a genuine concern. I would agree with you there,” said Tokar.
“I just don’t think it would be a good contract. The language in the rider is much broader and appears to indemnify Nugent,” said Meslar.
So, when the contract was brought up for a vote, it died for lack of a second and no vote was taken.
Trustee Ed Kowalski described Nugent as a “polarizing figure” after the meeting, but his political views were not the problem. “In the end, our job is to protect the citizens of Chicago Ridge and the contract did not do that.”
“Unfortunately, the board did not take a vote on Ted Nugent so I don’t think he will be appearing at RidgeFest,” said Tokar, who was working this week on finding a replacement and hoped to have an answer by Friday.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/CRRidgeFest
38 Comments
Local News
Here’s a sure sign of spring
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Hi everyone. How have you been surviving January? This is one month I always hope flies by. If the sun is out, the temperatures are, or feel like they are in the subzero range. If it’s cloudy, which is most…
Justice swears in new police officer
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Justice Village Board approved the recommendation of the Justice Fire and Police Commission to hire Police Officer Kady Sassenger at its January 10 meeting. Her move from the Coal City Police Department to Justice is considered a lateral move, which means the officer transfers from one department to another…
Medeisis promoted to fire battalion chief in Bridgeview
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The Bridgeview Fire Department has a new battalion chief. Michael Medeisis, 55, was promoted from the rank of lieutenant at the Jan. 5 meeting of the Bridgeview Village Board. “Hey, hot diggity dog, we’ve got a great guy (promoted),” village Trustee Michael Pticek said. Trustee James Cecott said the promotion…
Retired village employee appointed to Lyons ZBA
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The Karasek family has a long history of working for the village of Lyons dating back decades. And that history is getting a new chapter. Steven Karasek, 60, who two years ago retired after 36 years in the public works department, has been appointed by Mayor Christopher Getty to serve…
Walker teacher Eva Manzke honored by farm bureau
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan School District 104 teacher Eva Manzke was recently honored by the Cook County Farm Bureau for her work with teaching students about agriculture. Students at Walker Elementary in Bedford Park, and Manzke herself were surprised when Principal Amanda Venegonia said they were gathered to honor Manzke, as she had been…
Moraine Valley’s Tom Diaz earns All-Conference honors
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Tom Diaz is a freshman at Moraine Valley Community College, and is making big strides with their cross country team. Diaz is also a 2021 graduate of Argo Community High School, and is the first Argonaut to earn All Region honors while pursuing his cross country career. MVCC’s Men’s an&…
Summit native marks decade with the Harlem Globetrotters
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Saul White Jr., better known as Flip White to basketball fans, has been with the famed Harlem Globetrotters for just over 10 years, and has no intention of stopping the entertainment he provides for his fans. White, who grew up in Summit, attended Wharton School and Graves Junior High (now…
A heavenly sound
Spread the love In what is arguably the most ornate and beautiful house of worship on the Southwest Side—St. Joseph Church in Back of the Yards–the Polonijna Orkiestra Chicago played liturgical music selections last Sunday. Founded in 2011, the orchestra is designed to teach young musicians Polish music and culture. St. Joseph parishioner Konrad Pawelek…
Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park
Spread the loveRobbed at gunpoint in his own garage By Tim Hadac Home-security camera images of a 48-year-old Gage Park man being robbed at gunpoint in his own garage outraged a number of Southwest Siders this week. Images showed the man driving his car down the alley in the 5500 block of South Richmond at…
Here’s the skinny: Trimmed-down Lawrence helps Oak Lawn top Evergreen
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Oak Lawn senior basketball player Davion Lawrence is 45 pounds lighter than he was last season, but insists his eating habits are the same. He has, however, changed up his training habits. Heading into football last fall, Lawrence and a few fellow seniors wanted to get in the…
Neighbors
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…
Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans
By PETER HANCOCK and JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Immigrant rights advocates on Friday continued to push for one of their top budget priorities: full funding for state-run health care programs that benefit noncitizens, regardless of their immigration status. Those programs offer health coverage for low-income individuals who would otherwise qualify for…
As state continues to inventory lead pipes, full replacement deadlines are decades away
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com Lead pipes in public water systems and drinking fixtures have been banned in new construction since 1986, when Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, but they are still in use across the U.S. and in Illinois. The presence of lead pipes has persisted due in part to…
Capitol Briefs: State unveils report on racial disparities among homeless populations
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Tackling homelessness requires addressing racial injustice, according to a new report commissioned by the state’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. The report found that Black people are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than white people. Remedying this disparity, according to the report, would require “long-term…
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
This is ridiculous . Wake up it’s freedom of speech. Ted is a true patriot if he was transgender you wouldn’t cancel him. It’s funny how the left can say whatever they want but if you disagree with them you are just horrible. Stop being cowards.
Lol true patriot? You do realize he dedicated on himself to avoid being drafted and defending our freedom.
I don’t blame him as Vietnam had nothing to do with our freedom. Too bad all of the men back then didn’t do that to take a stand against BS wars.
The Vietnam war had nothing to do with defending our freedom. It’s a shame all the military & men didn’t take a stand back then to the BS “war”.
Just crazy where is freedom of speech in this country? you should be thrown out of office
Just shut the fuck up Bill! We don’t want that TRUMP LOVING ASSHOLE performing here! I wish we could CANCEL him and CANCEL your pathetic ass!
Speak for yourself. Our country was so much better off with him in office.
It’s not a freedom of speech issue besides, Nugent sucks. He’s a washed up, jerk off, has-been.
Did he marry a child that he adopted
Ted makes the poor widdle snowflakes cry , the left attacks him while cheering for scum like Roman Polanski or Woody Allen, stupid is as leftists say and do
The right has it’s idiots as well. Look at Majorie Taylor Greene.
You ought to hold a conversation with a Democrat as you seem only to have deranged, cartoonish, and worst of all, false, notion of who we are.
The whole fest is cancelled now anyways because of that bs in Tinley Park a week ago
Well, no need for me to go, guess it’s back to being overcharged for garbage entertainment
Is it just because the liberal left cried? Or because we know they would be the ones to turn things violent because their feeling got hurt?
Politics at RidgeFest? We aren’t in the city my friends. Grow a pair.
IF TED NUGENT ISNT THERE I’M NOT GOING THEIR OTHER MUSIC SUCKS
Watch how many villages cancel 4th of July celebrations because off these skids. Looks like Indiana will make a lot more money on fireworks this year cause Illinois is only one of a few states where there are illegal, but terrorism is. What a joke.
Surprised Ted would want Illinois money any how.. dirty dem money!! He don’t need it.. !!
Wow all politics aside, he’s an avg musician who’s biggest hits are wang dang sweet poontsng and cat scratch fever. I outgrew this moron by the time I was 12
Well fuck that fest then.
I agree with others. Due to the Contract not protecting people? Yeah right. More like they don’t like his political views so they canned him. They can say it’s not about that but i find it odd that the country just so happens to be in political turmoil and ted is likely one of the most outspoken rock n rollers ever. And as Someone else said. The left can say whatever they want and it’s “oh its okay freedom of speech!” Then the right speaks up and it’s considered unacceptable and dangerous and all of a sudden your canceled and freedom of speech is no longer the discussion.
The contract says he isn’t responsible for anything bad that happens. All you pro Nugent people wouldn’t have a problem if he was responsible for whatever happens then right?
Why would anything bad happen it’s only liberal peaceful protesters that would show up to protest?
He’s an entertainer, why would he be held accountable for anything other than not performing
Did he marry a child he adopted ?
Talk about grooming ?
We will be looking for other family entertainment. The Jesse White Tumblers headliners. Really?
Its called Freedom Of Speech Mrs Davenport. RidgeFest gets worse every year! Hope you are proud of yourselves….
My $ will stay in my pocket this year…
Well it doesnt matter anyway, the little black flash mob will ruin the whole festival.
Ban chicago Ridge that liberal ass suburb
Maybe they can hire drag queens! Dumbass people!
When did Ted Nugent not have comments about certain things guys awesome and if you gave them up when you were 12 years old how the h*** are? You now I seen him alive. When I was 16 in 1974 at soldiers field. The guy was a killer along with leonard skinner ariel speedwagon journey and thirty eight special.
Let The Great White Buffalo Roam Freely!
Word is Ted will be replaced with a transgender Asian midget juggler.
So if theybare canceling performers due to political stances. Then maybe that entire board should get replaced. I’d choose Nugent over some snakes or some kids tumbling around anyway.
Hold a.private event close by and have nugent come play . See who’s louder and draws a bigger crowd. Bet they won’t “cancel” him next year. Not that he would attend after this nonsense.
SNOWFLAKES!!!
How about the police presence be amped up and come and out say if you wanna come riot bring it , you will regret it. Thanks democratic ideology, let the animals run free, Yes, they are animals