The Friday Flyer • July 8, 2016

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • JULY 8, 2016
New playground structures going in at Sunset Beach Pg. A3
Pumptrack Demo Tour Vendors, sponsors comingtoCanyonLake invitedtoAugust next Friday Pg. A3 Mermaid Festival A15
4th of July crowds mostly happy, behaved
BY SHARON RICE
EDITOR, THE FRIDAY FLYER
Monday’s 4th of July celebration came at the end of a long weekend of pleasant weather, new Main Gate entry procedures, a wave of weekenders and guests, and high expectations for the fireworks show. The fireworks show did not disappoint, with many people around town and on social media calling it “the best ever!”
On Monday, waterfront beaches, large and small, were packed with easy- ups, chairs, coolers, water toys (and sometimes the backyard barbecue) as residents staked their claims early Mon- day morning for family members and friends to spend the day.
Aqua Lily Pads, iFloats and Maui Mats blanketed the water along shore- lines and where boats tied up together,
providing extra play space for frolicking youngsters. Kayaks and paddle boards shared waterways with speed boats and pontoons. Many homes off and on the water hosted parties.
The first notable
gathering was the an-
nual “Waller Family
Bike Ride” on Longhorn
Dr. Several hundred
showed up for this an-
nual (but not officially
publicized) event early
Monday morning. More
golf carts participated
this year than past years,
according to photographer Mike Clary.
Not all of the day’s gatherings were so cheerful. Several fights were reported during the day at Holiday Harbor among young people in their late teens and early
20s. At one point in the mid-afternoon, five Riverside Sheriff’s vehicles could be seen at Sunset Beach.
One of the officers said 10 deputies were patrolling the lake that day – double what had been brought in last year. He told The Friday Flyer one of their biggest concerns was underage drinking and that a fight at another park had resulted in one person breaking an arm. Other witnesses reported fights breaking out at Holiday Harbor and subsequent arrests. There were no reports of issues at Sun-
set Beach or the Campground.
As The Friday Flyer visited each wa- terfront park by golf cart to take pictures and videos, staff found most people to be friendly and more than happy to gather for a picture when asked. If there was any unrest, they didn't see it.
Social media complaints focused on the excessive drinking, use of drugs and profanity that was observed at parks and beaches. Many commentators placed the blame for these unacceptable activities on the influx of “outsiders” during the holiday weekend.
Two witnesses reported an incident following the fireworks show of reck- less driving that resulted in an arrest. At Tuesday’s CLPOA Board meeting, Com- munity Patrol Manager Jay Cregeen said several fights had broken out a Holiday
CONTINUED PAGE A8
PHOTO BY MIKE CLARY