State Line Speedway destroyed during rock festival riot; burglar accused
In 1976, an unfortunate incident occurred at the Nor’wester ’76 rock festival at Northwest Speedway in State Line, Idaho, resulting in a full-blown riot. The aftermath left nothing but debris and destruction in its wake. The president and general manager of Northwest Speedway described the scene as a wasteland, with every building reduced to nothing and even the fencing destroyed or stolen.
The chaos began when the company in charge of the audio equipment decided to dismantle the sound system, signaling that the bands scheduled to perform, including Bachman Turner Overdrive, would not be able to take the stage. As word spread throughout the crowd that the event was falling apart, attendees grew restless and unruly. Kootenai County Sheriff Thor Fladwed recounted how the plywood fencing started to cave in as the crowd pushed against it, leaving the place deserted by management and security.
Subsequently, attendees resorted to setting trucks on fire and toppling a large crane onto the stage before setting it ablaze. The prosecuting attorney of Kootenai County hinted at potential criminal charges, such as arson, but the complexity of the situation would require time to unravel.
In a separate incident from 1926, an accused burglar named Joe Fonder ingeniously escaped from a county jail in St. Maries, Idaho. Crafting a makeshift saw from a case knife, he managed to saw through the bars of his cell. After making a rope out of blankets to lower himself to the ground, he exploited an opportunity where he had been allowed to spend the night in the women’s ward, which led to his getaway.
Fonder was facing serious first-degree burglary charges at the time, but his escape was executed with such skill that he managed to steal a car and evade capture, with the vehicle being last seen passing through Tekoa. The daring escape of Joe Fonder left law enforcement in pursuit, hoping to apprehend him before any further incidents occurred.
These historical events serve as cautionary tales, reminding us of the unpredictable nature of human behavior and the consequences that can unfold in moments of chaos and desperation. The Nor’wester ’76 rock festival and Joe Fonder’s escape are testaments to the importance of effective security measures, preparedness, and maintaining order in challenging situations to prevent calamitous outcomes.