Make an Example of Kids Who Disrupt Public Events
Augusta Today columnist Austin Rhodes writes that minors who disrupt public events deserve to public shaming.

Columbia County officials may have raised a few eyebrows with new policies aimed at keeping rowdy juveniles in line during public community events. I, for one, appreciate the aggressive action they are taking to maintain safety and control during popular celebrations.
Over the last few years there have been minor incidents at several performances, events, and fireworks displays at Evans Towne Center Park and the Lady A Pavilion involving disruptive behavior and general bad manners. Usually, unsupervised teenagers were at the center of the trouble.
Fortunately, there have not been serious injuries or dangerous weapons involved in these skirmishes. Afterward, however, the social media rumor mill begins to churn with over-the-top exaggerations that feature third, fourth, and fifth party "eyewitness accounts" detailing gunfights, gang attacks, and coroner calls that never happened. The amount of purely fictional nonsense that fills TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram is staggering, and the propaganda does have a real effect.
In recent years, the sponsors of both the Georgia-Carolina State Fair and the Columbia County Fair have drastically increased security and police visibility at their events. It’s part of an effort to stay ahead of the misconception that their beloved events have become too violent and dangerous for families to safely enjoy.
I make it a point to attend those fairs every year, and I promise the only thing to genuinely fear is the occasional puke spew launched from the Tilt-A-Whirl after an ill-timed visit to the Cullars French Fry Stand.
A tip of the hat particularly to the Augusta Exchange Club, which brings more certified cops per square foot to its fair than Augusta National brings to Washington Road in April. (True story. I actually did math a few years ago.)
Never known to stand pat on public safety threats, real or imagined, Columbia County officials are really getting strict with this weekend's fireworks celebration, "BOOM! In the Park" - and good for them in doing so.
For the first time ever, direct and maintained adult supervision is required for anyone 16 or younger, with at least one adult present for every four minors in the group. Read that again - direct and maintained supervision. That means you have to stay with your herd throughout the night. There will be no cutting the kids loose to run willy nilly all over the park while you nap in a lawn chair with your earphones blasting Kendrick Lamar.

GOOD.
It amazes me how many parents put their kids on cruise control at public events and then feign shock and disgust when junior gets yanked up for showing out.
My belief is that some good old fashioned public shame may help humble a few of them into acting like human beings and not feral beasts whenever they see neon lights, cotton candy, and crowded parking lots. Be it a newspaper, television, or my radio show, we can make sure any and all people arrested and charged with disrupting any local events will get extra special attention.
You want to be famous?
Act a fool this weekend at "BOOM! in the Park", and you just might find yourself with some extra special coverage. File it under "Idiots who ruin events for everyone" or maybe "this is why we can’t have nice things."
I’m not just talking about this weekend. I see this as a new normal, applicable to all community gatherings, sports events, parades, and so on.
I would also suggest local judges, when trying these cases, include banishment from whatever venue they have defiled with their moronic behavior. Maybe that will slow the roll with a few of these clowns.
Start a fight at the Fair? No more fun for you at that fair - EVER.
Throw a bottle or skirmish with a cop at Lady A? That will be your last concert there - EVER.
I love my hometown, and I know most of you do too. Let's get behind the effort to aggressively run the thugs out of our celebrations and community events. There is no such thing as bullying a bully.