Jaycees' fireworks display seeks to introduce a touch of normalcy

The Havre Jaycees' Fireworks Display will be taking place at the Great Northern Fairgrounds Saturday - the evening of the Fourth of July - and the organization's fireworks shop that funds the display is open for business starting at 4 p.m. just past the Hill County Detention Center on Second Street.

Havre Jaycee Kevin Holmes, who sells fireworks at the organization's booth, said the display has become a popular event in the Havre community that's very rewarding to be able to put on.

"Originally it was started to put on a fireworks display for the Havre area. It kind of turned into something that exploded in the community, no pun intended," Holmes said, "It was something that was needed at that time and we had a lot of eager volunteers that were willing."

The proceeds made from the Jaycees' fireworks booth go toward paying for the display and Holmes said he wanted to give a special shout out to Jason Murri, who handles the pyrotechnics for that display.

"He's been phenomenal," he said.

Holmes said Murri makes an effort every year to get his hands on new stuff for the display in order to keep it interesting, and this year the Jaycees want to put on as big a show as possible.

"We asked Jason, how much can your equipment handle, that's how much we want to do," Holmes said.

He said the Jaycees want to make the display especially good this year given how much the ongoing COIVD-19 pandemic has affected life for people in the community.

"We wanted to make sure that it's special for everybody especially with all the things that are getting canceled," he said. "We think it's important for people to have some sense of normalcy."

Holmes said he, like many others, was disappointed by the cancellation of the Great Northern Fair, but given the situation he thinks it's a step in the right direction.

He said the pandemic hasn't presented any major hurdles for the fireworks booth or setting up the display, both of which, he said, can operate fairly easily while maintaining social distance and keeping surfaces sanitized.

He said the Jaycees have been in contact with the Hill County Health Department, which recommended that the fair grounds remain closed so they can more easily set up the display while staying within CDC guidelines.

Holmes said he wanted to give special thanks to Patrick Construction for providing portable toilets for the Jaycees, Vaughn Truck Sales for providing the trailer they need for safe fireworks storage, and owner of Garbage Inc. Trevor Smith for transporting the booth and letting they use the space needed to sell their fireworks.