Donations for Fourth of July fireworks still needed

The annual Onaway fireworks display during the Fourth of July celebration has been moved to a new location, but the size of the show remains in question as donations continue to slowly trickle into city hall. City manager Joe Hefele sought approval from the city commission — and received it — to have the fireworks set off on a hill on the farm of Tim Horrocks, just north of the city limits. He also said the fireworks will soon need to be ordered. Fire chief Eric Rose will be trying to get the fireworks to a heighth of 300 feet, so anyone camped out on the north side of the city should be able to see them.

HORROCKS SAID people living on the hill near the water tower will easily be able to view the fireworks from their homes. It could be the best location in years, but how long the show will be is another story. As of Monday?s meeting, Hefele reported the fireworks fund had reached $3,100. The Onaway Area Chamber of Commerce was the latest organization to make a donation of about $1,000, bringing the balance to its present total.

Hefele said there is a business in the Onaway area that is considering a donation of $1,000. While some townships have donated, others that contributed money last year hadn?t yet. ?If we don?t receive any more funding, it?ll be a pretty small show,? said Hefele.

MAYOR GARY WREGGLESWORTH believes ?the biggest dilemma is everyone doesn?t start thinking of them (fireworks) until a week or two before the Fourth of July parade. It needs to be done months before.

? Hefele may have found a possible funding source for future shows, which would alleviate some of the annual late spring headaches for city and township officials of where the next pot of money will come from the traditional event. ?I think we have a line on some significant funding that could be a stable source every year,? said Hefele. ?It would start next year, but that would possibly be $2,500. ?It would be a big boost between that and the townships and this entity would be the sponsor of the Onaway fireworks show. Hopefully, we?re on the right track to this not being a continuous worry come every single May.?

The pleas to the public have not exactly fallen on deaf ears, but even after after a front page story appeared in The Outlook two weeks ago, the city paid for two ads, and the city manager wrote a column about the need for funding, only three donations came in.