Crowd wowed by fireworks
Crowd wowed
by fireworks
Estimates are that perhaps 2,500 or more people enjoyed the Labor Day fireworks display Sunday night at Marion County Lake.
And the Marion Fire Department has already raised about $700 toward next year's show.
Dale Snelling, superintendent of the lake and park, said, "It went fine. We had a lot of people. In the dark, it's hard to estimate or tell, but the hills and the area by the office were full. We probably had about 1,000 cars, close to it, anyway, and at least 1,000 people watching, probably more like 2,000.
"There was no rain (that night); it missed us, and none of the debris caught fire," Snelling said.
If there had been a strong wind, it could have blown sparks into a pasture, and "it would have gone like gasoline," he said. "We would have had to change sites and had a worse parking/viewing area, at least 1,000 feet from any people.
"Everything worked out fine. There were not as many boats on the water as last year — seven this time, about 20 to 25 last year. The campers weren't here in large numbers, either, because of the cool, rainy weather."
People were still driving into the lake area to see the show at 9:30, Snelling said, which is when the display was set to begin.
The event was publicized by donated advertising in the three newspapers owned by Hoch Publishing Co. at Marion, Hillsboro, and Peabody.
DuWayne Suffield of Marion, who coordinated the drive to "save" the fireworks show this year, said he was "very proud of the businesses for pitchin' in to keep it going."
Suffield raised $4,000 in contributions of $250 from 16 businesses in Marion when it became apparent the county could not contribute to the show's funding this year.
Suffield also thanked the Marion Fire Department for "stepping up and taking over the fundraising for next year."
People honking their horns after the 30-minute show were "showing a lot of appreciation," Suffield said.
Steve Showalter of Inman discharged the fireworks along with his pyrotechnician helpers.
"Half of the campers had gone from the lake," Suffield said.
He thanked Kingfisher's Inn for providing meals for the pyrotechnicians, and the sheriff's department for providing traffic control.
"At least it didn't rain. We had them (fireworks) covered with tarps until it was time to shoot them. The Marion Fire Department also helped pick up and wrap cords for us after the show.
"If it hadn't rained (starting Thursday night), we could not have had the show," he said. Showalter shot the fireworks electronically with wires and caps and remote detonation south of one of the shelter houses, Suffield said.
There were a total of 700 shots in the show.
Anyone who wants to send donations for next year's show is asked to send them to: Fireworks Fund, Marion Fire Department, 112 North Fifth, Marion, KS 66861.
