Internet hearsay is running wild.
Locals have reportedly started a petition to stop the show, but these are most likely the same people who have done this every year since the show started. Helen is a small GA town, and there are a number of locals who don't like the show period, and / or are pissed that it wasn't their idea and / or they aren't the ones making ALL the money off it. Boss Hogg mentality, for lack of a better term.
I haven't seen or heard about any business or homes being torched, nor any police cars getting flipped and set on fire, so the claim of their town getting "destroyed" is a little weak. Like "get off my lawn you dedburn kids". Helen plays host to a couple bike events during the year, you know those aren't peaceful family-oriented weekends.
The story about Corvette guy's gunplay appears to be true. He was pulled out of his car and cuffed by HPD. Also from all reports he is a local, not that it makes any difference at this point. SoWo attendees will get blamed for his actions regardless of what the truth turns out to be.
Not sure about houses getting broken into. We will see if there is any evidence to back up the claims. But again, truth doesn't matter because we're all convicted in the court of popular opinion.
Burnouts yes. HPD and GSP reportedly gave a free pass to do burnouts for a period of time, then were powerless to stop it when that time limit was reached.
People all out in the streets, yes. Drunk / drugged people aren't too concerned with checking themselves. Crowd control should have been tighter. Either by law enforcement or simple common courtesy. Like "hey drunk guy, get your ass out the street".
Fights. Getting to be more of a problem lately. Young people + alcohol = dudes squaring up over nothing.
Guess that #savesowo and #savetheeuros added up to jack ****, huh? In the eyes of Helen GA, we're all guilty of destroying their town, and not letting them make enough money off the show.
IMO SoWo had a good run but once again the scene is killing itself. I don't expect the city to grant a permit for 2016. Until it's legal to put everybody under 25 in the gas chamber, I'm not sure what the solution is.
