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The demolition of the tallest, ugliest building in Gary, Indiana - an abandoned 14-story hotel which has been a prominent symbol of decay in this troubled steel town - began on Saturday, said city spokeswoman Chelsea Whittington.

The concrete structure right next to City Hall has been empty for two decades - so long that trees sprout from the roof. Plans called for demolition to start with the removal of a pedestrian bridge, city officials said.

Opened in 1971 as a Holiday Inn, it closed a few years later. It reopened as a Sheraton in 1979, but closed again in the mid-1980s.

Other former mayors have tried redeveloping the hotel, but first-term Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson decided the most practical thing to do is just to knock it down and replace it with public green space, said Joseph Van Dyk, Gary's redevelopment director.

"It's ugly and it dissuades potential investors and I think the removal shows great progress for the city," said Van Dyk.

Freeman-Wilson has also targeted other derelict buildings for demolition or redevelopment. Other measures to revive Gary include selling abandoned houses for $1 and having volunteers do neighborhood clean-ups.

Located 30 miles south of Chicago along the shores of Lake Michigan, Gary has long been a symbol of urban blight. The city has lost about 25,000 steel jobs since the 1970s, and its population shrank to 79,000 in 2012 from 178,000 in 1960.

The $1.8 million Sheraton demolition project has received city, state and federal funding, including money from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.It will proceed in stages, continuing into October.

Asbestos was removed from the structure before the start of demolition. Next steps will include destruction of a parking garage and a story-by-story removal of the building.

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Gary knocks down eyesore high-rise hotel

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County fair attendance dips, demo derby numbers rise

- July 28, 2014 by Mr HomeBuilder

The ever-popular demolition derby crashed its way to higher numbers than ever at the 164th Butler County Fair, but mid-week weather put a damper on overall attendance numbers.

Attendance figures show that 73,188 people turned out to the Butler County Fairgrounds last week, almost 5,000 fewer than the 78,065 who showed for the 2013 fair, according to Dan Martin, the fairs manager.

Wednesday it rained and we lost about 10,000 (people), Martin said. If we would have had that, we would have been right at 83,000, which is about our norm. If we can get between 80,000 and 85,000, were in good shape.

Attendance for the annual agricultural showcase has fluctuated in recent years, going from approximately 89,000 in 2009 to about 96,000 in 2010, 77,000 in 2011 and 66,000 in 2012, Martin said.

Having a slight dip in attendance for this years fair is not necessarily cause for concern, he said.

Its a hit, but its not earth-shattering, Martin said. We can obviously sustain without record attendance every day. Its just a little bit of a drop in revenue, so well tighten our belts a little bit and move forward.

The biggest overall draw to last weeks fair was Friday nights demolition derby, he said.

It always is, Martin said. Everybody always seems to come on Friday evening and enjoy the demolition derby. Its the most popular grandstand event we have.

A big crowd on Friday night not only boosts gate and grandstand revenue, it also creates a spillover effect that benefits food vendors and ride operators, he said.

Kent Taylor, treasurer for the Butler County Agricultural Society, said Fridays derby drew 76 entries, up from 50 to 55 in previous years.

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County fair attendance dips, demo derby numbers rise

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Demolition derby starts off Boone County Fair

- July 28, 2014 by Mr HomeBuilder

Amy Scalf, ascalf@communitypress.com 12:01 p.m. EDT July 27, 2014

The Boone County 4-H and Utopia Fair will take place Aug. 4-9 in Burlington.(Photo: File photo)

BURLINGTON The Boone County Fair will start this year with a crash, as well as a bang.

Instead of a hot rod tractor pull, the 2014 Boone County 4-H and Utopia Fair will start with a demolition derby on Saturday, Aug. 2. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the event will begin at 7:30.

It will be a lot of fun, I think, said Sandra Cupps, Boone County Fair Board spokesperson.

She said that drivers who arrive in a vehicle from 1979 or earlier will get free entry for the evening and will participate in a noncompetitive car show before the derby starts. Only drivers receive free admission, and the event is open to cars, trucks, tractors and bikes.

Otherwise, admission costs $10 per person, just like the other nights of the fair.

Rides are open from 6-11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1-11 p.m. Sunday.

Everything is covered under that $10, said Cupps. After they get in, people only have to spend for food, and theres always food to be found.