CONFLICT OVER HAGGARD CONCERT CANCELLATION

Merle Haggard’s business manager says the country music singer canceled a concert Monday at the Clark County Fair in Vancouver, Wash., because of illness--not because of an argument with his wife, as reported by fair officials.

“Merle came down with dysentery after the afternoon show (at the fair) and simply couldn’t go back on stage for the evening one,” Dennis Bottomley said Wednesday. “I don’t know anything about an argument with his wife. We all have arguments with our wives, but that’s no reason Merle would cancel a show.”

John McDonagh, president of the Clark County Fair board, said Wednesday there has been no contact with Haggard or his representatives since the singer left the fairgrounds after the first show Monday. “The only thing we were told (by a member of the entourage) was that Merle had had a violent argument with his wife.”

Bottomley said Haggard also canceled two shows the next day in Roseburg, Ore., returning home to his ranch near Redding, Calif. Haggard was reportedly improved and scheduled to leave Wednesday for a concert tonight in Hemet. He is also scheduled to perform Sunday and Monday nights at the Universal Amphitheatre.