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Businesses, residents speak out against plan to close Canton Street on summer weekends By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com
STORY & PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
A cowgirl holding an American flag circles the Wills Park Equestrian Center arena at Celebrate Freedom Rodeo’s opening night May 4.
Rodeo spurs thousands to Equestrian Center ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Running for more than 20 years, the Celebrate Freedom Rodeo welcomed some 22,000 visitors over three days to witness cowboys and cowgirls compete in a slew of competitions. The traditional Southern rodeo was held at the Wills Park Equestrian Center from May 4 to May 6. The event featured saddle and bareback bronc riding, with a bucking horse as men fought to stay on using one hand. It also had break-away roping, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling and cowgirls barrel racing. The finale of every night was bull riding, notably the biggest thrill. “As they say, it’s the most exciting eight seconds in sports,” said Morgan
Rodgers, Alpharetta Recreation and Parks director. Throughout the event, which led with a salute to the country, there were pauses for banter from a rodeo clown. Kids also stepped forward to compete in a dancing competition for a chance to win money. Before the competitions geared up, some visitors were slung off a mechanical bull and rode ponies. Outside of typical concessions, there were vendors selling barbecue, boiled peanuts and funnel cake. There were also cowboy hats and other rodeo gear like oversized, ornate belt buckles for sale. But many already showed up dressed to impress. “[The rodeo] is a staple, is what it is,” Rodgers said.
A child rides the mechanical bull outside of the covered arena before showtime May 4.
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ROSWELL, Ga. — It appears Roswell residents and businesses will have a greater say in the city’s plan to close Canton Street to vehicle traffic on weekends this summer. At a special public forum May 9 at City Hall, Mayor Kurt Wilson promised a crowd of residents and business owners that the City Council will hold formal discussions on the topic, with opportunity for public comment. Wilson joined other council members – appearing separately so as to avoid a gathering that would constitute an official City Council meeting – to hear from residents who attended the nearly two-hour forum. The city floated the idea recently to close the popular street to vehicles from Ga. 9 to East Alley on weekends over the summer to promote pedestrian traffic. Canton Street is regionally known as an entertainment hub, with an array of restaurants and shops. Almost 7,000 vehicles travel that stretch each day. Wilson said the City Council will hold the special meeting to address the issue Tuesday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m. “My expectation is we will deliver a plan that will address the things we discussed today,” Wilson said. If there are further concerns, the mayor continued, the city will continue
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