'REGGAE ON THE RIVER' SPARKS A CONTROVERSIAL 4 HOUR MEETING TODAY

EUREKA, CA- The Board of Supervisors has denied an appeal made by a Southern Humboldt business owner, who says his store will lose customers during the “Reggae On The River” Festival. The controversy sparked a 4-hour meeting this morning. 
 
This year reggae on the river is being held at Frenchs Camp in Cooks Valley. For safety reasons, California Highway Patrol will monitor left hand turns for northbound traffic. According to the owner of the Patriot gas station Zack Bowman, this will harm his business. Bowman added, "I’m appealing based on access to my store. The issue is people entering northbound can't enter my site. Period. I have a right to those customers on a daily basis this is how I make my living."
 
The owners of “Reggae On The River”, the Mateel Community Center said they offered them a booth at the festival to recover any losses made by the restrictions. But both parties could not come to a mutual agreement.
 
Supervisor Mark Lovelace says this is a private dispute and not the county’s business. He added, "This isn't the process of the venue for it. This a very expensive, time consuming way looking at the 40 people in the room its a very expensive way to work out something between two private parties."
 
 
The board gave CHP and CalTrans the ultimate decision to allow left hand turns into the patriot store, if they feel traffic conditions will allow it.