No 4th fireworks in Bonners this year
Bonners Ferry will not host fireworks or a Fourth of July event this year.
People who want to partake in Fourth of July festivities and fireworks and don’t want to drive far can go to Troy or Sandpoint.
In February, Skip O’Fallon retired from Mountain West Banks as president. When he announced his retirement he also announced he wanted to pass the torch, literally, to someone interested in taking the lead on the fireworks for the fourth.
“It was a family thing, I had my kids and their spouses to help out and now they have their own families and it is harder to travel,” O’Fallon said.
O’Fallon said anyone who is interested has to be licensed and permitted through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Roger Fraser, publisher of the Flatlander, was going to take on the event but could not get the pledges to raise money in time for O’Fallon to purchase the fireworks. Licensing and permits were also needed and time was lost.
“I raised enough money, but I was about a week late and it just wasn’t enough time for Skip to order what needed to be ordered as far as fireworks,” Frazer said.
Fraser also coordinates talent, sound and stage lighting for bands that play at events in town.
He said he lost his event coordinator at about the same time everything was supposed to come together.
“I hit dead ends every which way, there is no improvising with fireworks,” he said.
It just proved to be too much for one person to handle. He would have had to organize talent and stage support as well as fireworks and safety.
Eastport will hold a Fourth of July parade at 1 p.m. Immediately following the parade a potluck will be held at Mt. Hall Fire Hall No. 3 behind Good Grief Cafe.
Troy will hold a Fourth of July event all day at Roosevelt Park with many businesses open for the crowds of people and fireworks.
Sandpoint will have their usual fireworks at the city beach, and a parade at 10 a.m. down Pine Street. There will also be a circus in the Bonner Mall parking lot on July 4 and 5.