Rockets to fly June 30

The Vernon County Fireworks Committee has announced that the annual fireworks display will once again be held at the Vernon County fairgrounds and begin at dusk on Saturday, June 30. Last year's show was community funded and the committee is "trying to raise some money to pay for it" again this year, committee member Phyllis Sprenkle said.

According to Sprenkle, last year's show was a success, so the same vendor was chosen for this year's display. AM Pyrotechnics of Buffalo, Mo., will begin the show "whenever it gets dark enough," said Sprenkle.

This year's event will begin at the arena on the Vernon County fairgrounds well before dusk. There will be concessions, drawings and entertainment, Sprenkle said. The local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America will conduct a formal flag raising.

Other features may be added before the day of the event and an exact start time hasn't been "nailed down" yet, because we "don't know what's going on" for sure, Sprenkle said. She added that the committee would like to see the event grow every year, but that takes money.

Committee member Kevin Williams said they "would love to have a corporate sponsor who would take this on every year."

Meanwhile, the committee "needs money to get it paid for," Sprenkle said. Members are again appealing to the community because they believe "it takes everybody to get this done."

The committee has plans to recognize donors in as many ways as possible so they can show them that they really appreciate their support. Williams said they have discussed the idea of making the committee a 501(c)3 organization, so contributions can be tax deductible, but he said that's an expensive process, so right now they are asking for support.

The committee has about $900 left from last year's fundraising efforts, but the show costs about $3,000 to put on. Community members can donate any amount, Williams said.

"We take cash," he said, or contributions can be deposited in a dedicated account at First National Bank, located on the north side of the Square at the corner of Cedar and Walnut streets.

Donations may be left at the Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce, 225 W. Austin Blvd. Anyone wishing to donate may also call the Chamber of Commerce, (417) 667-5300, Sprenkle, (417) 884-5103, or Williams at (417) 321-1507. Any excess funds raised this year will be held in the dedicated account for next year's show.