The good, the bad and the mirror
Ardie Lauxman
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
I READ with interest, and some amusement, the blogs last week in The Gazette regarding there being no fireworks display on July 4 in Emporia. By chance, I also heard a conversation on the KVOE morning show about the same topic and how ironic it was that a year ago we had a great holiday for our sesquicentennial, topped off by a wonderful fireworks display ... and this year, nothing.
Tonight in The Gazette, we rejoiced that we did not have to buy any earplugs for the cat this year! It has run the whole gamut when you also consider the blogs. I thought it nice of neighboring communities to invite us to their fireworks show and demonstrations of community pride since we were going without.
I feel compelled to comment on this topic, because I’ve sort of been there and done that.
How many readers were community residents living in Emporia circa 1980? In 1980, I and other Emporia Jaycees went out and solicited $5,000 in cash donations to purchase a fireworks display for the community. I spent countless nights and stole time from my employer working on letters to mail out asking for donations.
You could count on several businesses for the big donation — $100! There were many $50 donations and, come April, the post office box always had a handful of $5, $10 and $20 checks from the private sector each and every day.
Joe Sweetman set a donation can in every gas station and retailer that would allow it. We went out on a string to raise that money. We had no reserves in the club treasury if we fell short.
The Gazette and KVOE helped immensely and were always calling, wanting to know how much was in the fund to see if we were going to make our goal. Well, that year we made our goal and then some, and the night of the display, John Thomas, John Green and Larry Bradfield walked the rows of cars on the fairgrounds and brought in enough loose change and small bills to get a good start on 1981’s display.
My point is, this community has always come forward when a need has risen, regardless of what it was. There used to be no city funds used. I firmly believe that this is the way it should have always been. While I am grateful for the city’s support in the past, I never considered it a given and often was somewhat jealous that we didn’t have to go “work” for our display anymore.
Folks, you can take out all your frustrations on Matt Zimmerman if you want to, and for that matter, the city commissioners. But if you’re going to do that, as someone who’s been there and done that, you had also better be pointing your finger straight toward yourself, also. We have a serious problem with getting our financial house in order in regards to city business. But that should not in any way stop us from enjoying what we used to fund ourselves.
I would end with an admonishment if I may.
Two individuals and a ton of assistants worked their tails off last year on July 4, and for that we are all very sincerely grateful. But what we — you and I — did this year was a tremendous insult to Mrs. Wheeler and Coach Slay. We did not react in the manner this community has done in the past when times were tough.
In 1980 we had a parade and activities on the fairgrounds to complement our display. We can do it again. Five thousand 1980 dollars is only worth about a thousand of today’s dollars. But I would venture a bet that if we got organized and went out and solicited funds now for next year’s Fourth of July, as we would have done a year ago, we would have what we need to purchase the display, have it set off and the insurance coverage to boot.
Who wants to step forward now and coordinate next year’s return to the Fourth of July celebration in Emporia as we have known it in the past? To whoever steps forward, I would venture to say that you’ll have more help than you’ll ever imagine.
Arden Lauxman is a Jaycee International Senator and a former member of the Flint Hills Optimist Club.
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
If the Fire Chief and the puritanically rigid city commissioners would listen to and honor the voice of the people, we would be allowed to ignite our own personal fireworks in our own yards and driveways and there would be no need for a public display. The public display would be a nice added touch, however, and I would certainly contribute toward it---after the city lifts the unpatriotic ban on private fireworks. That is the most important issue to be addressed as it is all about families, kids, patriotism, and tradition.
July 16, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
ok bj, so those of you who want that done...get the vote on the ballot and quit expecting somebody else to do it. the fire chief and city can't give in and repeal an ordinance or state law for a day just to satisfy a group of people. they can however abide by a new ordinance or state law that allows fireworks, or allows them on certain days.
i agree with Arden, if you want to point a finger or complain, start by looking at yourself. if you aren't going to do something to fix the problem, or contribute to the cause, then SHUT UP!!
July 16, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
I see, dhcc66. So, if lame-brained government officials inititate and enforce ignorant and unfair laws, we the people should just shut up and accept it instead of speaking out and making our feelings known. Okay, I got it now. With people like you living in Emporia, no wonder this town is sliding down the slippery slope to poverty and extinction.
Oh! And for your information: a committee is already being formed and meetings have already been held with city officials to institute a plan of action to have the fireworks ban repealed. We talk, and we do. You just talk. So, as you so eloquently said, "SHUT UP"!
July 16, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
citizen (anonymous) says...
I would have gladly donated to the fireworks display this year. But when it is announced a few days before the Fourth it is hard to come up with that money on such short notice. The city commissioners new for a full year but the message was not communicated to the rest of us until it was too late.
July 16, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Friends (anonymous) says...
Maybe since this seems to be such a hot topic; if a few more people such as JCI (Jaycee) Senator Arden would get together with the existing Emporia Jaycees, they could once again have the manpower to raise the funds and provide the display like they did back in the 80s. I know that there are more than a few JCI Senators (and other past Jaycees) in the Emporia area that have been inactive as of late. I bet the local chapter (which is still one of the best in the state) could use some support finding new members to help with a large project like this. What do you say Mr. Lauxman? Would that help solve the problem?
July 16, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
II might be in the minority, but I am glad fireworks in the city limits are illegal.
Like many instances you have responsible people and idiots.Unfortunately, this town is full of the latter.
My first year I lived in Emporia, I was welcomed to the neighborhood by having about 50 missiles go shooting off the side of our house at about midnight. The people who set them off had their coocharacha music up extremely loud and had gotten to the bottom of their tequila bottle. They thought it was rather funny.
I didnt think so as I was scrubbing scorch marks off of our vinyl siding the next day after work. Not to mention that they enjoyed shooting them off until about 3 in the morning keeping my newborn up all night.
People like that are who ruin it for the intelligent responsible ones in the community, not the commisioners and law enforcement.
July 16, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ladyluck777 (anonymous) says...
Here's a thought..........What if probation and parole officers that had clients that have community service hours to complete made them help with sending out letters asking for donations and also help with the clean up. They could also clean up the mess that people in the community leave after setting off their own private display of fireworks. Because we all know there are alot of people that don't clean up their fireworks mess. For the City to say there was no money for a parade is a cop out. Since when did the city have to pay money to put on a parade? It is my understanding that people pay the city to be in a parade. They sure can take the time and money to discuss whether or not to offer the GED test in Spanish but can't do anything to celebrate AMERICA'S independence. How Sad!
July 17, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
ok first of all Bj, nobody told anybody to just roll over and play dead. i said if you don't agree with the laws, do something to change them...not read into them as you like....as you seem to be so able to do with laws, news articles, and blogs like this one.
second. parades cost police and the city overtime hours to put somebody at the intersections to stop traffic. i don't think that anybody said the city couldn't afford it, i think it was that nobody had organized one. gazette writers correct me if i'm wrong please.
and last. i think the activity thing on the fairgrounds would be a ton of fun. bbq cookoffs, rodeos, music, exhibits, and yes bj...fireworks too.... i just don't think that in this time when the city is hurting for cash that the citizens should expect the local government to put 10, 20 or 30,000 dollars up to just go up in smoke so to speak. especially when the citizens as a majority don't want their taxes to go up. if the citizens want to put up their own money like they did in the old days like arden suggested then thats their decision. the city shouldn't have to be the magic lamp for everybody with a wish
oh, and ps....bj, just because i'm not "doing" as you like it doesn't mean i have to shut up. it just means i'm not agreeing with you. i think the point was that if you are going to just stand around a whine then it makes no points with those who want to take action. if you are taking action, power to you and good luck raising the money
July 17, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
dhcc: I have NO idea what you are ranting about or why you are ragging on me. I have said nothing about the city funding parades---I don't like parades---and I have submitted, in these very blogs, ideas for a July 4th event at the fairgrounds which would include fun, BBQs, music, etc. and have volunteered to contribute time and money toward the effort. I think your meds have worn off.
Also, my main concern, as you would know if you have been following these discussions, is that Emporians have the ability to shoot off their own personal fireworks, not whether the city has a public display (although that would be a nice bonus).
Check the dosage on that prescription label, dhcc66. I think you are wound a bit tight.
July 17, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
Fireworks are the least of my worries in whats going on with this city.
But I do agree they waited to late to inform us for anyone to even have a chance to act and help or donate. Surprised? Not me!
July 17, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
wow bj, feeling a little like a target today? if you would read somebodies postings besides mine and yours, you might see that another person made a comment about the parade. talk about being wound, if you would read all the way through, i agree with most of what people on here say. i just don't think the city should fund the fireworks. nor do i think anybody should be above the law.
enough said.
July 17, 2008 at 7:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
oh, forgot this one little thing. i could probably sleep a little better if you folks would stop shooting off your illegal fireworks til 3am. thanks
July 17, 2008 at 7:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
On that, dhcc, we agree. I very much want Emporians to have the right to shoot fireworks in the city for a few days prior to and on the 4th. However, there would need to be strictly enforced hours to do so; say, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. After that time, the fun and celebratory becomes obnoxious and intrusive.
July 17, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
I dont see that being enforced any more than all the dogs at large, but we can all dream.
July 17, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
Good point, hottopics. Enforcement does tend to be a problem around here.
July 18, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )