Optimists promise to paint the sky

"We're going to paint the sky with fireworks!"

With that promise, the McCook Optimists' long-time fireworks display chairman, Jim O'Dea, invited people from throughout the McCook area to view the spectacular fireworks show Saturday night, July 4th, in the skies about the Red Willow Fairgrounds.

Unless a storm comes up, the fireworks display will begin at dark, which in this area at this time of the year is shortly after 10 p.m. If threatening weather is approaching, the fireworks show will start earlier, O'Dea said.

As has been the case for the past 11 years, the fireworks will be set off by Pat Gilman, a certified and licensed fireworks shooter from Greeley, Colo. Gilman uses an electronic firing system, which sets off the fireworks in rapid fashion, lighting the skies lickety-split with an assortment of aerial booms and flashes of light.

"The show takes approximately 24 minutes, meaning we should be done by 10:30," O'Dea said.

For close-up views of the fireworks show, the public is welcome to sit in the grandstand at the Fairgrounds. Lots of space to watch from cars and pickups is available in the surrounding area at the fairgrounds.

For those wishing to help cover the cost of the fireworks, members of the McCook High School Dance Team will be circulating among the crowd to collect free will donations.

As of Wednesday, the fireworks display fund stood at $5,785, according to Optimist member Mark Graff. With those contributions, combined with the collections by the Dance Team Saturday night, Graff said there will be some money left over to help with future Fourth of July fireworks shows in McCook.

Up to this point, no one has stepped forward to accept responsibility for raising funds and setting off the fireworks for the 2016 Independence Day celebration in McCook. A sponsor is needed because, after 11 years, the Optimists have decided not to sponsor the show next year in order to devote more money and manpower to youth projects.

According to Graff and O'Dea, it takes between $6,000 and $6,500 per year to put on a show of the scope presented in McCook in the past few years. Another requirement in Nebraska for public fireworks displays is a licensed and certified fireworks shooter.

For more information, organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring future shows may contact O'Dea at 345-1555 or Graff at 345-4240.