By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Weather has plagued concerts on the Madison St. Plaza in Decatur this season and Thursday night continued the pattern.
Temperatures were a stifling 90 degrees at the start, but it was a heavy downpour that put an early end to Adams Health’s sixth annual Senior Living Event, shutting down the Sweetwater All-Stars after about an hour of a scheduled three-hour show.
Approximately 175 Adams Health residents and staff were on hand for the event which began at 5:30 p.m.
By about 6, radar was being checked as huge black clouds loomed overhead. Staffers began moving out the numerous residents/patients who had been brought in for the show.
The rain cut loose 10-15 minutes later, sending concert-goers to seek shelter, most of them jumping under the big tent set up for the Adams Health folks.
The 15-20 minute downpour forced the All-Stars to shut down their equipment and get ready for the trip back to Fort Wayne.
Just three weeks earlier, on August 13, rain rolled in and halted a concert by Simply the Best, a Tina Turner tribute band, after about 40 minutes.
The week before that, pending storms forced postponement of Derek Jones & 50 South. That one was been rescheduled for next Thursday, Sept. 10.
Heat was a big problem at a couple of other concerts, with a woman overcome and taken away by ambulance at a July 9 event.
NO KELSEY: It was the first time the Al-Stars have played Decatur without Brett Kelsey, who is moving to or has moved to Florida and no longer plays with the band.
Although he grew up in Fort Wayne, Kelsey has many ties to the Pleasant Mills area and Adams County.
Brett’s mother, the late Thelma Noll Kelsey Alexander, was born in Pleasant Mills. She had 15 siblings!
His late father was Ned Kelsey.
Marilyn Noll Young is his aunt and among cousins are Janelle Young, Keith Young, Decatur Mayor Dan Rickord, Elaine Rash, Kip Massoth.
Kelsey was an original member of the Sweetwater All-Stars, now in their 11th season.
About the Author
