The City of Wellington is shooting for a festive Fourth of July, with the public fireworks display set for Friday evening at Worden Park.
    The fireworks display will begin at dark — near 9:30 p.m.
    The community is asked to enter through the main entrance for the football, softball and soccer lots.  Parking attendants from the Wellington Noon Lions Club will help drivers find good parking, with the spectator area on the west side of the Go-Kart track.
    The Lions Club is also offering free watermelon to the community for a limited time leading up to the event.
    Seating will be provided, but the community is also encouraged to bring lawn chairs to enjoy the event. 
    Parking will not be allowed on either side of Hillside Avenue from H Street to the main park entrance, as the fireworks will be set off north of the park.  For this reason, the same area will be closed as display time nears and until the conclusion of the fireworks display.
    Hillside will re-open to traffic in both directions after the fireworks display, but entry to the park from the west side will be allowed at all times. 
    Pets and alcohol are also not allowed at Worden Park.
    In the event of rain, the City will have their display at the same time and location on Saturday evening, July 5.
   
Rules for Fireworks
    For those who are fired up to enjoy private fireworks, stands around Wellington were permitted to begin selling fireworks beginning at 10 a.m. this morning.  The hours for retail sales are from l0 a.m. to 10 p.m. today through Friday, July 4, as set by city ordinance.
    An extended evening hour is given for the private discharge of fireworks until the holiday, when the set hours for fireworks are from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. on July 1 through July 3.  On the Fourth of July, private fireworks will be allowed until midnight.
    Wellington Police Chief Tracy Heath said his officers will be made aware of the city ordinances and will enforce all laws related to fireworks.
    Wellington Fire Chief John Lloyd said every year one fireworks rule is abused — the sale and discharge of anything other than common fireworks, known as Class C fireworks.
    Lloyd said all fireworks sold in Wellington should be legal for this area, and will be marked as Class C fireworks.
    Class B fireworks are the most common deviant aerial display devices, and Lloyd said they will seek prosecution if anyone is caught with these types of explosives, in addition to any version of the once-common bottle rockets, which are now illegal across the state of Kansas.
    Any illegal or illegally discharged firework may be seized and held by law enforcement officers.  If prosecuted, possible punishment includes up to one month in jail and or up to a $500 fine.
    “We just want to have a safe Fourth of July, that’s our main goal,” Lloyd said.
    Lloyd also urges caution in deciding where to shoot fireworks.
    “This late in the season  while we’re still cutting wheat, people need to be very cautious for the farmers.  They’re recovering from a bad year last year and don’t need anyone going out and setting their wheat fields on fire,” Lloyd said.
    There is also a danger in less rural areas of the City — Lloyd said house fires have been caused by fireworks landing on personal property.
    Any reports of illegal firework shooting can be made to 911. 
    Lloyd said an additional complaint each year is from debris left from shooting personal fireworks.
     Lloyd said he hopes to see the community respect their neighbors this year and take better care of their trash from their fireworks displays.
    The City of Wellington has received three permits for fireworks sales inside the City limits.
    Just east of Wellington an additional fireworks tent has been approved by Sumner County. 
    For more information on the City’s fireworks rules and regulations, visit the Fire and EMS Department link on the City of Wellington website at www.cityofwellington.net.