Calaveras County Jumping Frog Jubilee

This years Calaveras County Fair called Frog Jump was probably the most busiest for the fire department, police department, and sheriff department ever. There was reportedly one death and an estimated count of four fight break outs down town in Angels Camp California. For such a sleepy area in California there was a counting of 1000 motorcycles, mostly Harley's roaming the area.

This fair in Calaveras County started back in 1893 a few years after Mark Twain had written a book about the famous short story called, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". It was a fair that took place from town to town in Calaveras County showing off baked goods, canned goods, quilts, and livestock. The fair wasn't called Frog Jump at the time. In 1920's due to the lack of board members the fair didn't exist. But when it came back the towns people had called the fair "Days of 49". A minister named Reverend Brown had it changed to "Frog Jump" in honor of Mark Twain's short story. (link: http://www.frogtown.org/jubilee_history.shtml)

This year's fair consisted of fire out breaks by teenagers (an estimated of eleven spot fires), vandalism, fights, drug usage, car wrecks, and "a lot more drinking than the year of 1967" states a former local. More children under the age of 5, due to parental neglect, were found lost on the fair grounds this year than former years. Crowds not only gathered at the fairgrounds but every where in the town of Angels Camp. The lines at the grocery store were longer and the average product bought was "alcohol beverages" states a grocery clerk.

The amount of arrests were up to 70% for this year's fair. Most were caught drunk driving or drunk in public and selling drugs to minors. While most families may not be so full of mayhem, there is a phenomenal amount of violence, drinking, drugs, and child neglect at Calaveras County Frog Jump Fair this year. While the fair has been going on for a grand five days, the County has been truly running wild.