Fireworks display goes off well

Drive kept boom from going bust

By Mark Fischenich

MANKATO — The flash, the color, the booms, the music and — most important — the oohs and the aahs didn’t disappear from Mankato’s Fourth of July in 2009.

Community contributions mustered by a group of area radio stations totaled more than $24,000 in just over a month and replaced financing traditionally provided by the local Chamber of Commerce and the city.

“It happened really just a couple of dollars at a time from a lot of people,” said Jo Guck Bailey, vice president and general manager of Minnesota Valley Broadcasting/Radio Mankato.

Bailey said the challenge of raising at least $15,000 in such a short time was daunting, but the alternative was worse — letting the traditional fireworks fall silent without even trying to save them.

“We didn’t want the fireworks in Mankato to disappear without finding out first if the public wanted to support them,” Bailey said.

The fund-raising wasn’t the end of the job, although Bailey and the on-air personalities at the various radio stations committed a lot of their time to that task. On Saturday afternoon, employees were constructing the stage for the pre-fireworks musical performance by The Ride, setting up the two separate sound systems for the crowd at Blakeslee Stadium and preparing for the simulcast on a pair of local radio stations.

“It’s everybody lending their talents to the project to get it done,” said Dewayne Megaw, operations manager for the Radio Mankato stations. “Everybody did what they’re really good at, and it came together.”

Among the talents on display were those of RES Specialty Pyrotechnics. The company, located between Belle Plaine and New Prague, is the state’s biggest and does indoor fireworks for professional sports teams and rock concerts as well as the traditional outdoor shows, said Erv Haman, business development director for RES, who promised a good show for Mankato.

Haman said Mankato wasn’t the only community where the fireworks were in doubt because of the tough economy. Still, business has been solid, the biggest blow to the company coming with the death of singer Michael Jackson. RES had a $250,000 contract to provide the pyrotechnics for the singer’s planned European tour.

Haman said he understands that cities are in a financial crunch, but he bristles at the suggestion that fireworks are expensive. The cost works out to as little as 50 cents per viewer for many shows, and what they get is 20 minutes or more of excitement as they share with others a piece of America’s heritage.

“It’s art and it’s entertainment,” Haman said. “It’s art made by your hands and your heart, and then you put it up in the sky.”

By sunset, people were streaming into Blakeslee Stadium, joining the early arrivals who were camped out in prime locations, throwing footballs and Frisbees on the field, listening to the music and chatting with friends and family.

Connor Brunick, 5, was seated on grandma Eileen’s lap, taking advantage of the ride in her wheelchair. His father Michael was pushing and mother Jennifer was at his side.

“Are you gonna dance Connor?” Jennifer asked. “Are you gonna rock ’n’ roll?”

It was late, but Connor was rested and ready for anything.

“I just sleeped five seconds in the car,” he explained.

Michael Brunick said they’re making a tradition of visiting Blakeslee on Independence Day. The price (free) is right, and they like the way the event unifies all parts of the community for one night.

“I think it’s really important because it gets everybody together,” he said.

The community was in harmony an hour later as the oohs and aahs flowed from Blakeslee and echoed across informal viewing spots in parking lots, roadsides, parks and backyards across the city.

When the last sparks of the grand finale faded away, there was nothing tangible left behind but smoke in the air and traffic jams on the ground. But there is one thing that’s lasting, something that makes the fund-raising, the organizing and the work worthwhile, Bailey said.

“I think it’ll be in everybody’s memory for a while,” she said.