NE Ala. State Fair officials hope rain stays away

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama

 (The Huntsville Times/Eric Shultz).

The 50th annual Northeast Alabama State Fair may have gotten off to a slow start Thursday, but it picked up steam Friday and Saturday with more than 8,500 people attending the event sponsored by the Huntsville Jaycees.
However, Sunday's crowds fell off because of rain throughout the afternoon, although people began "trickling in" as the rain subsided during the early evening, said Jaycees President James Henley.
"We had a tremendous response Saturday," Henley said. "People came out in droves and were all up and down the midway. You have to have four good days to make it, and we're hoping for good weather Monday."
Although the National Weather Service had predicted high winds and even possible tornadoes Sunday from Tropical Storm Lee, they didn't materialize, leaving only a a drizzle of rain most of the day.
However, the National Weather Service continues to predict between 4 and 7 inches of rain for the area through Wednesday.
Because of the deteriorating conditions predicted today, fair officials decided to move the fireworks show scheduled for tonight up to last night.
But Henley is saying some prayers the rain will hold off at least another day so the Jaycees can bring in enough money from the fair to help benefit the community as they have done for the past five decades.
"A lot of people have no idea how much we give back to the community from the fair," said Henley, who has served as the Huntsville Jaycees president for the last six years. "We usually give around $10,000 to some cause in the community each year."
Henley said from the fair proceeds, the Jaycees have donated to many causes including starting a kidney wing at Huntsville Hospital, providing one defibrillator in each of the five City Council districts, donating the "Jaws of Life" to the Huntsville Rescue squad, putting diaper changing stations in men's restrooms at area ball parks, donating $60,000 one year to various causes throughout the community, and most recently helped with the new Everybody Can Play playground at Brahan Spring Park.
"It's all about helping the community," said Henley.
The fair, a Kissel Entertainment production, is scheduled to open today at 2 p.m. and conclude about 9 tonight.