Federal budget cuts nix plans for a Pittsburg concert - KOAM TV 7

Federal budget cuts nix plans for a Pittsburg concert

Budget cuts in Washington D.C. silences some music in the Four States.  A chorus that was part of the U.S. Navy Band had been scheduled to perform at a free concert in Pittsburg.

Hundreds of free tickets had already been distributed for the event at the Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium but now sequestration has pulled the plug on the plan.

"The government cuts, the sequestration that took place, and this was part of the trickle down effect - I had no idea it would ever reach Pittsburg, Kansas," says Jeff Wilbert of the Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium.

"We must absorb these additional cuts within a few months, which means there's very little flexibility in adjusting to these cuts," Aaron Porter of the U.S. Navy Band told us in a phone interview.

The auditorium distributed over 800 free tickets leaving residents from the area planning to attend the concert disappointed.

Residents of MedicaLodge were expected to attend the concert.  Workers at the home say the residents don't get to be out in the community very often and explaining to them about the cancellation may be difficult.

"They're going to be very disappointed because they were really looking forward to it," says Joyce Hinrichs, the business director for MedicaLodge.  "It's kind of like, how do you break that to them when they have built up the opportunity to, number one go out in the community, and number two see entertainment on this level?  This is a big thing for Pittsburg and a big thing for the residents."

The U.S. Navy Band says it apologizes and hopes to reschedule the concert.