By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Fourth of July holiday is officially on Tuesday. Many will take to the streets to light fireworks in honor of the nation's 247th birthday. Where those people live will determine when those fireworks may be legally discharged. All municipalities ask that trash from the fireworks be picked up in a timely manner.
In unincorporated areas of Barton County, the discharge of fireworks is limited to July 4 between 8 a.m. and midnight. Within Great Bend city limits, that time is limited to 10 a.m. to midnight. Hoisington City Administrator Jonathan Mitchell said fireworks discharge is also limited to July 4 in that city.
"Some places have expanded that but ours is just on the Fourth itself, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.," he said. "Obviously, we appreciate when the community goes out and cleans up after themselves. You're supposed to clean it up the next day. We have had a few people make some reservations for barricades to close off their streets. We allow them to do that if they request that in advance but, unfortunately, the window has passed for that request."
Encounter Church, 601 Patton Road in Great Bend, will host its All-American Celebration on Sunday, July 2, starting at 6:30 p.m. and culminating with a fireworks show. The Great Bend Bat Cats will also have fireworks following the All-Star game that evening at Veterans Memorial Park. The city of Great Bend will hold its fireworks show at the Expo Complex after dark on Monday, July 3.
Fireworks discharge times for other communities include:
Great Bend
10 a.m. to midnight July 4
Hoisington
7 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 4
Larned
8 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 1-3
8 a.m. to midnight July 4
Ellsworth
6 p.m. July 3 through midnight of July 4
Ellinwood
8 a.m. to midnight on July 4
The city of Ellinwood will host its fireworks show after dark on Sunday, July 2 near the Ellinwood High School football field.
Claflin
8 a.m. to midnight on July 4
Russell
8 a.m. to midnight on July 4
St. John
8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on July 3 and July 4