---
12 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
JULY 6 - JULY 12. 2005
FIREWORKS
4th of July show a blast
BY ADDAW LAND
PHOTOS BY KERLI HENDERSON
aland@kansan.com
Lawrence residents came out in droves to watch the annual fireworks show put on by the Lawrence Jaycees.
Organizers held the show at Burcham Park. 2nd and Indiana Streets, and residents filled the park.
Gary, Saathoff, Lawrence Jaycees president, said he was told there were about 5,000 people in the park, with even more people in surrounding streets and parking lots.
The shells were shot off by current and former members of the Jaycees, Saathoff said. More than a dozen current and former members were down in the pit, which is the designated firing area for the shells. One ex-member had helped with the show for 35 years. Saathoff said.
The show was funded through donations. The City of Lawrence donated $5,000 and Emprise Bank gave the largest donation of $7,000. Saathoff said. The entire event will probably cost $14,000, said Saathofl, but the totals for Monday's extravaganza have not yet been tallied.
We have a lot of people who work all year long and if it weren't for the people we wouldn't have been around for 65 years." Saulthoff said. "We do it as a way to say thanks to the cow and the people in it."
About 500 to 600 shells were used in the show, not including the grand finale that alone had over 1,300 shells. The lavees spent $10,000 on the fireworks alone.
Organizers had about the same budget as last year but decided to put more of the money into the fireworks this year. Saatholl said.
Britta Houman, KU alumna and former Jayplay writer, has attended the show for the last three years. She attended because it was the Fourth of July, and it was "tradition to see fire works."
Lawrence has had a fireworks shop, hosted by the javeees, for the last 50 years. Safloff said.
The show, which began about 9.45 p.m., lasted for about 50 minutes and ended with applause from the crowd. The finale was the best part of the show. Florman said. The different colors and sparkles were great to watch, she said.
Edited by Erin M. Drost