Get ready for fireworks!

Wanda English Burnett
Editor

This weekend Ripley County has a lot to offer in the fireworks display department. There will be fireworks on Friday night, Saturday night, and again on Monday night.

Friday night will start off the weekend celebrations with the 11th Annual United We Stand night at the Ripley County Fairgrounds Park, Osgood. This is sponsored by the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce with everyone welcome.

There will be food, ice cream and fun for the whole family. Entertainment will include various local groups along with Centerline Band. Bring your lawn chairs and watch the great display compliments of a grant from the Gilmore & Golda Reynolds Foundation.

Saturday night there will be more sparks flying with the Versailles State Park having their annual event of fireworks at dusk. Park goers can get into the park for free during this time. The fireworks will be displayed over the lake area.

Sunday night an ice cream social at the Milan First Baptist Church from 4:30 - 7 p.m. will kick off the events in Milan.

Monday there will be an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Milan Methodist Church beginning at 7:30 a.m. with the annual Milan Lions Club Parade at 11 a.m. At 9 a.m. free parade registration will begin with the parade line up at the Milan High School.

The Lion of the Year will be Jerry Smith, who will be honored during the parade on Monday.
According to Melissa Baker, secretary for the Milan Lions Club, the parade is open to all organizations and individuals. “The kids need to bring candy bags,” she noted, saying there will be lots of fun for everyone at the parade.

Jon Nichols will be the Grand Marshal of the parade.

For years Nichols' name has been known throughout the emergency community as he has served on Milan Rescue 30, Milan Volunteer Fire Department, and the Milan Town Police.

Nichols' parents, Chester and Eleanar (Call) Nichols, were very active in the community. His wife, Jean, says “so he naturally followed in their footsteps.” Chet was the local barber.

He and Jean have two children, Jessica and Jarrod.

The entire parade will be broadcast live on WRBI 103.9 thanks to Whitewater Motor Company in Milan.

After the parade, the activities in Milan will continue. There will be a roast beef dinner at the Milan Volunteer Fire Department, and a steak dinner at the Milan VFW.

The Milan ’54 Museum will be open with visitors welcome to see the exciting new changes.

There is also a party in the park that day. Everyone is welcome to the Daren Baker Memorial Park where there will be a variety of activities going on. Live music will be provided by 650north with the popular Milan Lions Club fireworks beginning at dusk on Monday.

For more information you can call Melissa Baker at 654-1873 or Harold Coleman, Milan Lions Club president, at 654-2948. You can also get parade registration forms online at: http://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/milanin or email: milanlions@gmail.com.

While celebrating the Fourth of July, Sgt. Noel Houze of the Indiana State Police reminds everyone to be safe. “Do your part in making this year’s celebration a safe one,” he noted, asking people to follow the law when it comes to putting off fireworks at home.

Indiana fireworks laws are:

• Only individuals 18 years of age or older can purchase fireworks.

• A person 18 years of age or older has to be present when anyone younger than 18 is using or possessing fireworks.

• Fireworks can only be used on the user’s property, the property of someone who granted permission for fireworks to be discharged, or a place designated by the Indiana State Fire Marshal for the discharge of consumer fireworks.

• Fireworks can only be discharged between the hours of 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. any day except on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and New Year’s Eve where the times are 9 a.m. to midnight.

Sgt. Houze noted in some circumstances a person could be charged with a felony if the use of fireworks results in someone being injured or worse, death.

He said each year the emergency rooms are full of children who have been improperly handling fireworks.

You can find out more about fireworks laws and safety by visiting the Indiana Department of Homeland Security website at http://www.in.gov/dhs then click on the Get Prepared link on the left side of the page.

Four days of fireworks and festivities planned by various groups offers something for everyone in the county.