Pubdate: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 Source: Tennessean, The (TN) Copyright: 2004 The Tennessean Contact: http://www.tennessean.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447 ADDRESS BONNAROO NOW If a Middle Tennessee community decided to create a three-day event that would bring 90,000 people to the region, it would have the all-out backing of business owners and government officials. Bonnaroo deserves no less. Organizers announced this week that the fourth Bonnaroo is scheduled for next June. The event dropped in the lap of the midstate in 2002 when promoters rented a 700-acre farm in Manchester for a three-day music festival. It was wildly successful, which caught the state off guard. Traffic on I-24 in both directions was clogged for almost 24 hours as about 70,000 concert goers made their way to the site. Pity the poor slob who was just trying to get to Chattanooga. Traffic has been a problem with subsequent Bonnaroos, but each year state and local officials do a better job steering the Bonnaroo crowd to the event and guiding other motorists to alternative routes. The most pressing issue now isn't traffic; it's drugs. Last year, 27 people were arrested and 132 drug citations were issued at Bonnaroo. Two deaths occurred, both of which, according to autopsies, were cases of drug toxicity. As much as Tennessee might like hosting this world-renown event, it must address the drug issue now. State officials need to work with Cannon County and Manchester to assure that enough law enforcement officers are available: Last year, the county scrounged up all it could, but the sheriff said he still had a manpower shortage. Additionally, concert organizers should demonstrate that they intend to run a drug-free event. They should not only agree to conduct thorough inspections of cars that come onto the property, but to prominently inform people buying tickets that their cars will be inspected. Bonnaroo officially has an anti-drug policy. For the reputation of the festival and the safety of patrons, it should translate that policy into beefed up security measures so that it will be welcome in Middle Tennessee for years to come. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth