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06/28/2003 Archived Entry: "A TIME TO CELEBRATE"

A TIME TO CELEBRATE

Many people probably don't remember, but it was in 1980 or close to it, when Dane returned from Houston to learn we no longer had nighttime fireworks for the kids in town and went about doing something to correct it. The CSB &T were the sponsors in those days and Shelly Thaemert spend a lot of time helping Dane organize the event.

It was held on the golf course which is still the most perfect of all places in town to have it. There were local food vendors, sky divers, musical groups and activities galore. Each year it became more congested and more like one great big family picnic. There was something about those days that haven’t been duplicated in other years.

That’s not to say the fireworks and activities now aren’t “Spectacular” as they are. It’s just different…more spread out, less congested, less personal.

The Ira E. Lloyd open house starts at 2:00 p.m. and I’ll be there for the tour, high tea and beans in the bunkhouse. The re-enactors, including Ira E. Lloyd, will be there. No doubt the cowboys in the bunkhouse will get into a dispute over a game of cards or a woman and a fight will take place. Dennis and Clovis Katzenmeier are celebrating the 130th year of the arrival of Ira to Ellsworth. They have planned this as a fund-raiser for the renovation of the Insurance building. Any donation, large or small, will be appreciated.

The three-on-three basketball challenge has been cancelled because of lack of entrants. That would have been fun to watch.

Other activities start about 6:00 with food, music, games and rides for the kids and other events at the Recreation Center. It might even be a cool evening. The forecast is for a chance of rain but we’ll just hope it holds off until after the Spectacular. I know how irate people can get about shooting off the fireworks if they don’t come off as planned. Weather has a lot to do in the production, so we can only hope it all comes together just right for a successful evening. Otherwise…it will be tomorrow night.

Come out and join the fun. It’s a great time to celebrate our many freedoms.