Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

July 4 fireworks celebration committee plans big blast

Bombs bursting in air at Gurdon High School will become a reality on Independence Day, as the July 4 show for 2006 again offers area residents a chance for a first-rate fireworks show.

Gurdon Mayor Clayton Franklin said the event will be similar to last year, with $3,500 worth of top-notch fireworks already on order.

"This show just keeps getting bigger for Gurdon," Franklin said. "We have full bleachers and this last year the parking lots were getting filled up at the school too."

Franklin, who is in charge of donations on this years firecracker committee, said the event will include concessions and some entertainment.

Lynn Failla, head organizer for the effort, said the Fifth Annual 4th of July Celebration will take place from 6 p.m. until dark at the Gurdon Go-Devil Stadium, Highway 67 next to Cabe Middle School.

The fireworks display will begin at dark.

This years fireworks sponsors as of June 14 are the Cabe Foundation, the City of Gurdon, the Chamber of Commerce, the CD&E Club and the 21st Century Community Learning Center.

"Our collections for donations are important, as the grant money gets less each year from the 21st CCLC but we can cover things this year," she said.

Failla said of the approximately $3,200 in fireworks cost from last year, the grant covered around $1,000.

The event will start out with a singing, from 6 until 8:30 p.m. on the football field. If it rains, the singing will be held in the high school cafeteria.

Franklin said, "If we have rain, we will wait it out and shoot the firecrackers when it lets up. It would take very severe weather before we would consider a cancellation."

Failla said the concession stand and booths will be open from 6 until 8:30 p.m. Band boosters will work the concession stands with very inexpensive items.

Local craft and food booths are welcome, according to Failla. If anyone wants to put in a booth or serve food and drink, they should call Failla at the high school or CMS. Those numbers are 353-5123 or 353-4311. She may also be reached at her home at 353-4018.

Failla said anyone making a donation for the 2006 fireworks display will receive a ticket to win a prize.

Members of the 2006 21st CCLC Community Involvement Committee include Mayor Clayton Franklin, the Rev. Jim Farris, the Rev. Bill OConnell, Kim King, Sharon Lasker, Maxine Weems, Becky Baumgardner, Van Williams and Lynn Failla.

Failla said the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have agreed to set up their fish tank this year.

"The crowd can enjoy that while going after their concessions," she said. "I would like to thank Pastor Farris for negotiating the fireworks out of Memphis and the pyro-tech to shoot them off."