Disappointing and unfortunate. How else do you describe the melee that took place at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds on Saturday evening that involved anywhere from between 100 to 200 children and adults?

Fair officials – with tempers already high – made the right choice in shutting down the event for the evening around 9:30 p.m. But it does beg the question: where is the common sense from the adults?

There was no need for that many people to be involved. And because it happened at a county fair, the story has gone national. People can read about it online at all the major news outlets, specifically USA Today.

Volunteers and area residents put a lot of work into making the fair happen. It is too bad this year’s edition will be remembered for the scuffle.