News from around the country
Flea Market Carny Who Tussled With Guests Is Arrested and Charged
Opa-locka Hialeah Flea Market is the place to go if you're looking for a great big (and potentially violent) show.
Last month, an eight-minute video made the rounds on social media, showing a Ferris wheel operator at the flea market getting belligerent with guests and co-workers alike: yanking a boy off the ride without letting his mother off, pushing another carnival employee who confronted him, and shoving a parent who got in his face before other guests swooped in and jumped him.
When the incident was first reported, the carny's identity was unknown and police had not yet arrested him. But newly released records identify the man as John Howard Hoffman III of Sebring, who was arrested a few days after the incident on April 17 and slapped with a felony charge of child neglect as well as two misdemeanor battery charges related to the carnival brawl.
Cell-phone video of the incident broadcast on Facebook Live begins as Hoffman becomes irate at a woman as she attempts to exit a car after her ride. He then grabs her son, yanks him out of the car, closes the door before the woman, identified in an incident report as Julisa Houston, can get off and restarts the ride. The boy, separated from his mother, attempts to hold onto the car as it begins to move, dragging him until he finally lets go
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Jackson, TN bids farewell to Friendly Frank’s Flea Market
After 27 years, Friendly Frank’s Flea Market says goodbye. Vendors gathered to have a final blowout sale and to bid farewell to an old home.
Sunday was the final day to shop at Frank’s and people from all over the region came out to say their last goodbyes.
Owner Peggy Adams, expressed her thanks to the community.
“The community is, oh my word! I can’t even say how great Jackson and the surrounding community is. They have supported us through this whole COVID thing and the past 27 years. They are fabulous,” Adams said.
Adams says that she doesn’t know what’s next, but she’s excited about the future.
Friendly Franks posted to Facebook on Tuesday, saying in part:
“It’s the last Friendly Franks Flea Market ever. Come on out and find something for everyone on your list – Holiday fashions, home goods, kids clothes, antiques and collectibles, Holiday lawn décor and more. Looking for great foods for your holiday gatherings? Friendly Franks has you covered with homemade salsa, soups, cakes, cookies, jams and more. It’s been a great 27 years, we cannot thank our vendors and customers who have been with us over these years enough. We appreciate each and every one of you. It was you that made our show a success, but all good things come to an end.
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Fire Destroys Two Buildings At Plant City Farm & Flea Market
PLANT CITY, FL – The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to the Plant City Farm and Flea Market where a fire had engulfed two buildings.
HCFR reported:
Last night, HCFR responded to a commercial structure fire at the Plant City Farm & Flea Market. Crews arrived to find three metal storage facilities fully involved. The buildings were approximately 4,800 sq ft each and were leased by three different vendors of the produce market.
To complete the extinguishment of the fire, the metal buildings had to be ripped apart by a Gradall provided by Hillsborough County Public Works. Due to a lack of hydrants in the area, a water shuttle operation was conducted by four of HCFR’s water tankers.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation, but not presumed to be intentional.