WHEELING - It was a soggy start Friday to the Wheeling Heritage Port Sternwheel Festival, but poor weather is something event organizers are used to.
The festival's kickoff Thursday was greeted with clear skies and warm, yet comfortable, temperatures. The second day of the event, however, started with dreary conditions and included sometimes heavy rainfall. Rain has plagued the event in each of its six years of existence, and flooding forced the cancellation of the event in 2004.
Festival Chairwoman Lindsay Pockl said the weather again is a concern, and she hopes rain doesn't force the postponement of tonight's fireworks. She said all event organizers can do is stay optimistic and do all they can to make sure the event runs smoothly.
"We get killed every year," Pockl said. "We just keep going."
Ohio County Sheriff Tom Burgoyne is involved in the Sternwheel Festival, and he said the rain has kept the event from becoming as financially successful as it could be. He said one day of good weather at the Sternwheel Festival is rarely followed by another.
"We've never had three nice days - three days without any rain," Burgoyne said.
Capt. Luke Haskakis of Tiltonsville is a Sternwheel Festival committee member. Haskakis' wife, Boni, also is involved in the event, and they stay in their houseboat "Bonilue," which is docked at the Heritage Port throughout the event.
Friday's rain didn't dampen Haskakis' spirits. He said he loves the Ohio River, and he loves the Sternwheel Festival. He commended all those involved in the event for their hard work.
"We plan for the best," he said. "It (weather) is out of our control. We have a lot of good people working, and we just keep doing what we love."