2008 Woodie Awards
Fight leads to early closing
By Rachel Seeman
Rocket News Editor
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: News
Large crowds and fights resulted in the early closings for the local Sheetz and Ginger Hill Tavern businesses Monday night.
There were more than 150 people in the parking lot at Sheetz, forcing the 24-hour business on Main Street to close around midnight due to safety concerns for the employees, said Slippery Rock Borough Patrolman Jason Bennett.
The large crowd is believed to have come from the University Program Board's spring concert on campus that featured Grammy-award winning rapper, Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., known as T.I., who performed earlier that night.
Two Steelers players, Hines Ward and Deshea Townsend, both of whom attended the concert, stayed in town and went to Ginger Hill, attracting a large interest from people.
Bennett, who was on site, said there were fights that broke out at Sheetz and the neighboring Ginger Hill Tavern.
"Individuals in fights were asked to leave," Bennett said. "One person was arrested at Sheetz. He would not leave the premises."
The individual was Justin Hoppe, 21, who was cited for disorderly conduct.
While Sheetz reopened at around 7 a.m., Ginger Hill also closed its doors to the public around 12:45 a.m. However, the management of the bar said there were no fights.
"We gave last call really early because it was so busy," said one management personnel, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Ward and Townsend were able to remain at Ginger Hill along with their VIP guests.
"We had everything very controlled," said Ginger Hill management. "For the capacity of people here, it was handled very well."
The management at Sheetz would not comment on the situation.
There were more than 150 people in the parking lot at Sheetz, forcing the 24-hour business on Main Street to close around midnight due to safety concerns for the employees, said Slippery Rock Borough Patrolman Jason Bennett.
The large crowd is believed to have come from the University Program Board's spring concert on campus that featured Grammy-award winning rapper, Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., known as T.I., who performed earlier that night.
Two Steelers players, Hines Ward and Deshea Townsend, both of whom attended the concert, stayed in town and went to Ginger Hill, attracting a large interest from people.
Bennett, who was on site, said there were fights that broke out at Sheetz and the neighboring Ginger Hill Tavern.
"Individuals in fights were asked to leave," Bennett said. "One person was arrested at Sheetz. He would not leave the premises."
The individual was Justin Hoppe, 21, who was cited for disorderly conduct.
While Sheetz reopened at around 7 a.m., Ginger Hill also closed its doors to the public around 12:45 a.m. However, the management of the bar said there were no fights.
"We gave last call really early because it was so busy," said one management personnel, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Ward and Townsend were able to remain at Ginger Hill along with their VIP guests.
"We had everything very controlled," said Ginger Hill management. "For the capacity of people here, it was handled very well."
The management at Sheetz would not comment on the situation.
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