MichiganRadio

Calhoun County Fair goes on despite Kalamazoo River oil spill ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

Michigan's oldest, continuously held county fair is getting ready to open, just a short distance from where a pipeline break leaked about a million gallons of crude oil.

The Calhoun County fair has taken place every year in Marshall since 1849. 50 thousand people are expected to pass through the gates to look at the 4-H exhibits, livestock shows and other county fair staples.

Charles Letts is the acting fair manager. He admits there is concern that the oil spill and cleanup just down the road is going to discourage people from coming to the fair.

"We always have that concern...bad weather...rain can do the same thing to us," Letts says with a chuckle. Letts says the fairgrounds are far removed from the cleanup site, so there is no danger to fairgoers.

There will be a reminder of the oil spill at the fair. There is a bottled water pickup center at the fairgrounds for people in the core of the spill zone. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio