UNIONTOWN, Ohio — Akron's annual Rib, White and Blue Festival has been canceled this year as the community awaits the release of bodycam footage from the shooting death of Jayland Walker by Akron police.
Officials plan to hold a press conference on Sunday, but in the meantime, Mayor Dan Horrigan says "this is not the time for a city-led celebration." Now, one area man says he has a spot where businesses can come set up instead.
Jeremy Caudill has been fielding phone calls ever since the Rib, White and Blue was called off, offering food vendors an opportunity to post up at his property: Melanie Lake in Springfield Township.
He has ample space and hungry swimmers, and knows what the workers are going through.
"It kind of hits me home, because I own a food truck and I have some buddies that are actually vendors over there," Caudill said. "I know how much the [price of] meat is up, and they spent a lot of money."
Not to mention all the planning and produce that goes into preparing for a weekend-long event. Now, they can join Caudill's.
"Come here, check out the vendors," he suggests. "We're going to have all kinds of cool contests. We have a 'Dad's hot bod' contest. We have a tug of war contest."
The Fourth of July is a popular day for the park that's been open since the 1950s, and as a veteran, it's important to Caudill.
"Got to get out there and celebrate," he told 3News. "It's a free country. I'm a military man, and that's what it takes."
WKYC called a couple of vendors. Some won't be making the trip because they live hours away, and ended up coming to Akron with coolers and U-Hauls full of food before driving right back. For those still in town, they're calling Caudill.