The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks,
The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and
spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."
Fourth of July brings hot weather, explosions and fun
The Fourth of July is a time of freedom, a time for justice, a time for truth and the American way.
But it's also a time of explosions, of parades, of sack races and watermelon-eating contests. It is a day off from school and the midpoint of summer. Did I mention the big explosions?
The Bombs Bursting in Air
The Carbondale Lions Club will shoot-off its 35th annual fireworks display at 9 p.m. Friday at the Abe Martin baseball field at SIUC.
Ellis Mitchell, the fireworks chairman since 1968, said this year's display promises to be bigger and louder than ever. The show, which will last about 45 minutes, will feature a larger number of the "more expensive" fireworks this year.
"Fireworks in any given size make different price shells, ranging from $20 to $150 apiece," he said. "And like most things, the more expensive it is, the more it does. The more it spans, the more brilliant it is."
This year's show features 160 aerial bombs and a 45-shot grand finale.
Mitchell said the show usually draws between 8,000 and 12,000 spectators each year. Although the show is not scheduled to begin until 9 p.m., it is advised that community members arrive early to nab good seats and to get settled before the show begins.
Gary Merideth of Carbondale said the Lions Club is using an older method for shooting off the fireworks than was used last year. The men will use 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch mortars embedded in the ground rather than the racks that were previously used.
Last year, a man was injured when a firework exploded in its can. Though he was not seriously injured - his knee was burned - he could have been if the firework had been angled differently.
"We don't need anyone getting hurt," Merideth said. "So we went to the old-fashioned way of burying the tube and shooting it."
Mitchell said the fireworks display is the biggest event for the Lions Club each year. The show is paid for by donations from area merchants and Lions Club fundraisers.
"In Carbondale, we serve more people with this display than anything else we do," he said.
Kids Stuff
The Spirit of Attucks, alumni from the Attucks Community Center, is sponsoring "Youth in the Park," a morning of free games and food for area youth from 10 a.m. to noon in Attucks Park in Carbondale.
The activities are open to the public, and include sack races, watermelon-eating contests, ring toss, Frisbee, track relay races and more.
Carla Cawthon of Carbondale said the event, which is in its 25th year, is a kickoff to a weekend of events for the Spirit of Attucks group. They are also hosting "Gospel in the Park," which features a lot of local talent, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Attucks Park. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.
"This is a really good thing for the community because it's not just open for the Attucks reunion students, but to the public," she said.
Cawthon said the Friday events usually draw about 300 people as they celebrate the Fourth of July.
"Friday is the main kickoff which draws a lot of people," she said.
Other Spirit of Attucks events this weekend include a picnic from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Attucks Park and a tropical dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday evening at Club 618. There is a $15 donation for the dance.
