Share this year's fireworks display with friends, family

Fireworks stands are already in place, and it won't be long before summer evenings are punctuated with explosive sounds and flashes of light that have nothing to do with a thunder storm.

It's a tradition as old as our country, and one boys young and old look forward to every year.

Firefighters don't look forward to the Fourth of July, however, according to John Dean, president of the National Association of State Fire Marshals.

"More fires are reported on a typical Fourth of July than on any other day of the year, and fireworks account for half of those fires, more than any other cause of fires," he said.

According to a report recently released by the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks caused an estimated 1,800 total structure fires and 700 vehicle fires reported to fire departments in 2005. These fires resulted in $39 million in direct property damage. The NFPA report also said U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated more than 9,000 people for fireworks related injuries in 2006.

But Independence Day is certainly a day to celebrate, and we aren't suggesting that fireworks be banned altogether.

This year, how about donating some of that disposable income to the McCook community fireworks display? You can send your donations to the McCook Optimist Club, P.O. Box 272, McCook NE 69001.

There's nothing more fun than pulling out a lawn chair and watching the show with family and friends, and saving money for something else, like buying gasoline.