ARCADIA, Wis. – A weather alert forced managers of the Ashley for the Arts charity concerts to shut down and tell people to seek shelter. This was about 6 p.m. – just before a thunderstorm with mph gusts swept the Arcadia Memorial Park at the south end of town. The Trace Adkins county music performance had just ended. The REO Speedwagon rockers were delayed until the fast-moving had exited west. Although concert-goers were encouraged to evacuate to the nearby Wanek gymnasium and community center, most took shelter under tents and eaves near the man concert stage. The festival was midway through its three-day run. Attendance was expected to top 5,000 — 8,000 mor than in 2022.
