Sometimes I have to wonder…
… what the heck is going through a person’s mind.
Steven and I regularily attend a summer concert series at Independence Grove, Lake County’s premiere forest preserve, which is not too far from our home. Last night, we had plans to meet a few friends there.
However, on the way there, our friends texted us that the forest preserve was closed and to meet someplace else instead.
Closed? What?! I checked the forest preserve Facebook and Twitter – the last updates were from a few hours earlier, announcing the concert and artist.
But sure enough, we drove by and the place was shut down. Gate closed, cops blocking the entrance (yelling at anyone trying to get in)… weird.
I eventually remembered that the forest preserve regularly updates their website.* I looked and saw this:
Hmm, okay, whatever. We met with our friends and hypothesized what happened, theories ranging from silly to serious – killer eagles? Two headed fish? A shoot out? Drowning? Bomb threat?
Unfortunately, it was one of those, and not the two headed fish – someone called in a bomb threat (pdf here). And they appropriately shut the place down.
Sigh. I was relieved to find out no one was hurt.
But am left feeling upset about it. Not in an “I’m scared” way, or upset I didn’t get to see the concert, but just upset with people. With this person, who was either serious or making what they thought was a joke.
Independence Grove is a nature preserve. People go there to bike/swim/run/fish, have picnics with family, attend concerts… It’s just such a beautiful place, that’s always been in the “safe” category in my mind. It’s hard to think about someone wanting to bring such evil there. Why target a group of people enjoying a hot summer evening listening to music with their friends and family?!
Of course, this is the same question that can be asked about almost any bombing, or any awful act against a group of people – just, why?!
The good thing is that no one was hurt. The worst thing that happened to us last night was this bug deciding to take a bath in Bobbi‘s drink.
I just hope this doesn’t scare people away from enjoying nature/the forest preserve!
I also hope they release more info about this as they get it. Knowing more makes me feel better.
*Social media fail? I was expecting an update on the other two sites.
Themocracy
Holy cow- that is so scary! I’ll have to check back and see if the report any more info. What kind of a world do we live in now? Geez….
That is a big bummer and scary too. 🙁
I agree, sometimes you just wonder what the heck some people are thinking.
Yikes! Glad nobody was hurt.
OH NOOOOOOOOO BOBBI’S DRINK!
RIGHT!?! They kindly brought me a new one 🙂
So effing stupid. Probably a kid making a “joke” or a disgruntled person wanting to be disruptive? Regardless why the heck do people do stuff like that? To be remembered? To gain notoriety? Oh wait- rolling stone magazine is perpetuating that with their current cover. Now terrorists grace the cover of magazines looking all GQ and stuff.
I hope they resume the concerts soon. Seems like a wonderful way to spend a Tuesday evening.
The Rolling Stones cover just makes my stomach turn. Like… eww, eww, eww.
I saw another blurb that said it was a specific threat. http://www.lcfpd.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.details&intObjectId=39889 WTF?!
I hope it was just a false alarm. 🙂 Glad you are safe & sound. I hate that there are so many crazies in the world.. Makes me feel paranoid. Love you!
Why can’t they all just be fun crazies like you and me?!
Love you too, snis!
Wow, that’s crazy!!! I’m definitely interested to hear what happened since I go there so much!
Oh bummer! Why do jerks have to ruin everything??
Yikes! glad it was a false alarm. I am happy to see you updated you blog main photo up today! I approve.
Never been to Independence Grove, but is sounds full of freedom!
I will never understand why people seem to lack the ability to think about how their actions affect others or how they can rationalize doing something like this. We used to get bomb threats when I worked at the courthouse and they caught the people every time. Do people really think this works? Because it doesn’t. It doesn’t get them anything.
how scary, but glad no one was hurt
It really is sad. After Boston this year I just kept thinking that nothing is safe anymore. I don’t understand why people feel the need to threaten and hurt innocent people as they try to do the things they love.
It’s still eating at me. I do NOT understand the motivation 🙁
Have you been reading about it online? They say it was a specific target and the threat came in a letter… so they have been searching the whole place?
The reactionary process we have come to where we naturally care for the safety of others at a public event, yet the dumbass that wants his 15 mins of fame, calling in bomb threat. I am glad they took precaution, but it makes me sad are in this mode of life.
As for the bug in the drink, if it’s alcohol, any germs the bug has will be killed off instantly after the first few sips.
Ha ha ha! Don’t worry! She got a new drink.
Luckily, they searched the park, found nothing, and were able to repoen the park yesterday 🙂
What the heck?? Who calls in a bomb threat to a forest preserve? I’m glad no one tried to ruin our trip to the VOLO/YOLO bog!
It is really sad that this is what the world is coming to!
Especially when you think of it as a safe, fun place! Geez!
Stupid people.