From the Fringe … Why did we change the way we use fireworks in Havre?

If it ain’t broke, why fix it? That’s an honest question, and one that can apply to a lot of different things.

For me, it applies to Havre’s policy on Fourth of July fireworks in the city limits. I just don’t understand what was wrong with the way we as Havreites did it for so many years.

Of course, for so many locals, what I’m about to say won’t be popular, but being a columnist isn’t about winning popularity contests, it’s about offering up an opinion, and here’s mine.

I just don’t think a fireworks free-for-all anywhere and everywhere in Havre is the best thing for our town, and I can actually offer a pretty unique perspective on the subject, because, once upon a time, my family owned two Golden Dragon stands.

During those years of selling fireworks, we weren’t allowed to set them off in the city limits. Of course, not everybody obeyed that rule, but, the big stuff, the artillery shells, Roman candles, the huge multi-shot displays, most often, people didn’t launch those from their driveways, back yards and in the middle of city streets. They reserved those for designated areas just outside of town, and, in my opinion, I thought the Fourth of July all those years went pretty well, and was a lot of fun.

I also know, from selling fireworks during that time, that I didn’t see any financial setbacks to not being able to blast them off anywhere and everywhere. Year after year, the Golden Dragon was selling out, or sending back very little product after the fourth, and so, I don’t think a city fireworks ban had any negative impact on sales whatsoever.

Of course, having sold fireworks for many years, I absolutely am not suggesting they should go away. Though I don’t enjoy them like once did, fireworks are as American as apple pie.

What I am asking is, is the way we do it now really the best thing for the city?

I know it’s not completely safe to have fireworks so close to homes, trees, shrubbery and just about anything else in town that could go up in smoke real fast. I think we can all agree that there’s a decent amount of risk involved with fireworks, especially when they are being lit up en masse, so close to structures all over town. I mean, I’ve often wondered, if someone in my neighborhood starts my house on fire from one of their displays, are they even responsible? How could I even prove who burned my place to the ground? The answer is, I probably couldn’t. Does that make sense? Does that seem fair or right?

Of course, those instances are very rare, but what isn’t is the noise. The noise from fireworks being launched in town is consistent, loud and intense. Yes, I know it’s only a couple nights out of the year, but, the fact remains that not everybody enjoys the noise. Not everybody wants their pets or children or both to be terrified all night long. Not everybody shares the enthusiasm for the loud noises that are associated with fireworks in the city limits. But it seems, with the way we are operating now, we have no choice, or say in the matter, Is that a fair assessment? 

My question is, why? Why do I have to just suck it up and deal with it? If it was a random night next week, and a really loud, disruptive party was going on next door, I would have some recourse. Why does a holiday have to necessarily be different? 

There was a time when it wasn’t like that. There was a time when we couldn’t just do whatever we wanted when it came to fireworks and the Fourth of July, and you know what I remember? I remember it having been pretty dang fun on the fourth. I remember having a great time up at the mall, out at Fresno, and at the Golden Dragon. And I remember it being pretty profitable for my family. 

But when that all changed, I admit, I don’t have as much fun anymore. I don’t enjoy watching my dogs shake and tremble all night long. I don’t enjoy watching my cat being terrorized. I don’t enjoy finding pieces of artillery shells in back yard, or on my roof. And though everybody loves the fourth, I’m pretty positive I’m not the only one who feels this way.

So sorry for being the party-pooper. But, I liked the way Havre used to do the fourth. I thought it was safer, and more considerate of our entire town. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, and I don’t know why it was so important to change it. It wasn’t broken, so why did we have to fix it?