Barns repaired in time for Sandusky Co. Fair
Quick action was taken to get buildings ready for opening day on Aug. 22
Horse exhibitors at this year's Sandusky County Fair need not worry, their animals will be under roof when the 170th annual county fair opens on Monday thanks to prompt repairs of three barns, according to Fair Board President Bob Lagrou.
Lagrou said he and several other fair directors were camping together out of town, over the Fourth of July weekend, without cell service, when storm winds reaching as high as 75 mph damaged the buildings and the fairgrounds. The July 1 storm tore roofing off the three horse barns on the fairgrounds property's northeast end, on North Street. More than 300 Sandusky County homes sustained some degree of tree damage from the storm.
When word finally reached him, Lagrou said, he was told of the damage, which included downed power lines, the roof damages and debris from multiple wind-damaged trees. He was told that several individuals had been seen entering the fairgrounds and driving around to observe the damage and made the decision to shut the gates and close the fairgrounds.
"The weather service said it was just straight-line winds," said Lagrou, noting that no evidence of a tornado was present. The fair board president said he was taken aback when he returned from vacation.
"I didn't know what to expect," he said. "I came in Sunday night and I was like, 'Oh, my Lord.'"
Lagrou said that a number of other directors had begun cleaning up debris from the storm and he and others followed.
"It was kind of a group effort," he said.
County crews, along with private individuals helped cut trees and limbs, leaving a large amount of unseasoned firewood that was advertised for free on social media. The wood went quickly, he said.
"It all disappeared.
"It was all insured through the county," Lagrou continued. Mark Weaver, a contractor from Ashland, was hired to do the work, he said. The contractor had promised to have the work completed before the fair opened. Lagrou said he was skeptical that the task could be accomplished so quickly, but he was pleasantly surprised.
"I'm looking out the window here and they're done," he said from the fairgrounds Monday.
Mmagnuson@gannett.com