Community turns out to watch yearly fireworks display

Thousands of spectators on Wednesday converged on Fort Scott Community College -- and surroundings -- to watch the city-wide fireworks show, sponsored by Elks Lodge No. 579, the city, county, Mercy Hospital and other businesses.

"I thought it went well," said Elks Past Exalted Ruler Bill Brittain. "The company we hired, Fireworks Spectacular (of Mitchell, Iowa), did a good job."

Those attending the display said afterward that the finale really capped things off for them.

"It was good," said Laura Brenthin of Fort Scott. "The finale was great."

Tim Ross and Joan Page of Fort Scott, and Lisa Wallace of Fulton, agreed.

"The end was one of the best ones I've seen since I can remember," Ross said, adding he's always attended the show ever since he can recall.

"I thought they were really good. The last was really busy," Wallace said. "... We enjoy it. It's one of the bigger ones we enjoy."

The Elks have been putting the show together since the mid-1990s. Each year, the organization raises funds for the display through its golf tournament and sponsorships for that, "but we'll do a few small things as well," Brittain said.

Brittain noted it takes the whole community to put on the show.

"The city of Fort Scott, Bourbon County and Mercy Hospital, some of them put in some money, so it's a community effort. It's not just the Elks Lodge. ... We look at it as Bourbon County fireworks. This is for the entire community and everybody that comes to Fort Scott," he said.

Brittain commended the Fort Scott Fire Department for the work they did in helping keep the event safe.

"The fire department did a tremendous job, they always do, to make sure if there was a problem it was taken care of, so there was no danger with them around," Brittain said.

Fort Scott Fire Department Chief Paul Ballou said calls were a little bit up on July 4, due to low humidity and high heat and wind. Because of the dry conditions, Bourbon County commissioners last week imposed a burn ban, with the exception of barbecues and fireworks through July 5.

Some 14-16 calls were received ranging from grass fires caused by fireworks to one kitchen fire listed as a structure fire and an electrical overload at one residence, plus EMS assists, Ballou said.

The chief expressed thanks to Scott Township Rural Fire and Bourbon County Fire District No. 3, which helped out during the holiday, the fireworks display and afterward.

Ballou also thanked the Fort Scott Police Department, which "ran with us all day and all night," the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office and the dispatchers.

"The call number for that day was up," Ballou said.