By Jim Goodson
editor@jacksonvilleprogress.com
They’ve been pilloried in the press for being major contributors to the decline of morals in the United States.
They’ve been hauled into court in several states to answer to a variety of charges - to supplying under age teen-age girls with alcohol to having inappropriate sexual contact with young women.
Most recently, on April 25 Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis was charged with a misdemeanor of sexual battery for allegedly touching an 18-year-old woman repeatedly on her breasts, buttocks and thighs in spite of her protests. The incident is alleged to have occurred at a restaurant in January 2007.
This weekend Girls Gone Wild will be here in East Texas filming Mudd Chicks Gone Wild Aug. 2-5 at Pool Ranch ATV Park northeast of Athens. The event is part of the annual Texas Redneck Games, which moves around to different ATV sites the first weekend in August.
A lineup of fun games such as the Car Starter Toss, Texas Style Fear Factor, Spam Eating Contest, Wet T-Shirt Contest and the Mattress Chunk contest is scheduled.
After the games, country stars Kevin Fowler and Mark Cooke and the Cook County Line will perform.
And, of course, girls will be implored to briefly doff their tops to be captured on video for Mudd Chicks Gone Wild. The question is: is this legal?
To begin with, indecent exposure in public is a crime in all 50 states. But at large events on private property lawmen generally are tolerant, citing the difficulties inherent in attempting to arrest hundreds of people at a time.
Organizers of the Texas Redneck Games say the Texas Alcohol Control Board will be on hand to make sure no underage drinking goes on. In fact, no one younger than 18 will be admitted.
Girls Gone Wild officials must also distribute model releases for anyone they film to sign. Without the approval of the video subjects themselves, Girls Gone Wild cannot use their images in any for-profit manner.
The Girls Gone Wild videos, which sell for as little as $9.99 apiece, have grossed as much as $30 million per year for Mantra Films, producers and distributors of the video.
USA Today listed Girls Gone Wild number 23 among the top 25 cultural phenomenons that changed America in the 1990s.
Local News
Will East Texas girls go wild at Redneck Games?
- Local News
-
-
Forecasters see end to La Niña but it may not bring drought relief
The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center announced that La Niña, which contributed to the drought across the southwestern U.S., will dissipate between March and May.
-
Alto police force adds tool to help in fighting crime
The Alto Police Department have an additional tool under its belts for fighting crime — tasers.
-
Bullard bans smoking in city park
Smoking in Bullard's O.L. Ferrell Park is officially illegal after a unanimous decision made by the Bullard city council Thursday evening.
-
Aircraft lifted from Lake Palestine
The Varga Aircraft found in Lake Palestine has been lifted from the water Friday afternoon. The missing pilot, Fred Scholz, has not been found and the search mission continued.
-
JEDCO, city to have joint representation
Through a 4-3 vote, Eldridge Moak will cease to be the attorney representing Jacksonville Development Corp. effective July 1.
-
Alto looks to update infrastructure, town is ‘worn out, structurally’
City officials said it is time to start looking into updating the city's underground infrastructure.
-
Model U.N. gives students a global perspective
Last week, delegates from over 40 countries met in Kilgore to discuss important issues within their borders.
-
2 men charged in aggravated assault
A New Summerfield man turned himself in to the Cherokee County jail last week for a late January aggravated assault incident.
-
Alto police hire two new officers
After six months without a police force, and two months of running with two officers, the Alto Police Department is fully staffed.
-
Rusk officials mull education partnerships
The Rusk Economic Development Corporation board of directors is deliberating a project that could grant every graduating Rusk senior a free education at Tyler Junior College.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Forecasters see end to La Niña but it may not bring drought relief
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
