Fireworks postponed at Lovewell, cancelled at Glen Elder

By Jewell County Record staff

Jewell County Record/STPNS

July 11, 2008

JEWELL COUNTY, Kansas (STPNS) -- The annual fireworks shows planned for Saturday night at the Glen Elder and Lovewell state parks encounter major hiccups when the vendor's truck delivering the fireworks did not show up as scheduled.

At Lovewell it was estimated more than 20,000 people visited the park during the three-day weekend. Many of those came in Saturday night to see the fireworks show. Many more gathered on the hilltops surrounding the park to watch what traditionally has been an enjoyable show. But they didn't see much Saturday night.

According to Kurt Reed, Glen Elder State Park, the fireworks truck did not show up until 11 p.m. for a show scheduled to start at dusk. Reed said, "it takes two hours to set up."

The sponsors of the Waconda Lake event, the Solomon Valley Eagles, made the decision to cancel the show.

Reed said "we (state park employees) were willing to help if it was requested that we proceed with the fireworks."

The supplier had at least three shows in the area. Friday the company was responsible for the show at the Belleville High Banks and then Saturday at the two lakes.

In a letter to the editor of this newspaper, Paul Abram, a member of the Eagles Lodge, said, "We heard the show in Belleville went off very well and was fantastic, so everything was on track. Saturday, the technician and his helpers showed up at Waconda Lake as planned and on time." When the fireworks truck did not show up, the technician tried find the truck but was not successful. At first the Waconda Lake sponsors thought they could postpone the fireworks until the rain date, Sunday night, "but without a guarantee," Abram said, "we would have to reschedule the lake employees, the fire departments, EMT's and everyone else involved." The sponsors decided to cancel the fireworks show.

Rick Cleveland, manager of Lovewell State Park, said, the company supplying the fireworks was Steller Fireworks, Wichita. The truck was to stop at Glen Elder first and then continue on to Lovewell Lake.

Cleveland said the fireworks personnel lost contact with their delivery truck somewhere between Kansas City and Glen Elder. It was later learned the personnel in the truck had lost their cell phone connection.

When it was determined the truck was not going to make it to Lovewell in time for the display, the company assured Cleveland the fireworks would be there Sunday night. Cleveland used a public address system to tell those assembled at Walleye Point to watch the show that the event was postponed to the rain date, which was Sunday.

The show was presented Sunday night but according to Cleveland the crowd was much smaller than what was assembled for Saturday night. Park permits purchased Saturday for the show were honored Sunday.

Cleveland said it appeared the delivery truck was delayed because of an accident but that had not been confirmed.

Abram said the Solomon Valley Eagles Club has sponsored the show at Waconda Lake for 10 years and considered it an asset to North Central Kansas.

In the early years, volunteers shot the fireworks but because of insurance costs and other reasons the club began hiring a professional to direct the show.

Before this year's show, the company the Eagles had been purchasing fireworks from discontinued the sale and shooting of fireworks. A new supplier was found and the Eagles paid a $3,000 deposit.

Abram said the Eagles would ask to have the down payment returned and planned to return donated money.

He said the club hopes to present the show in 2009.

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