There will be plenty to ooh and aah about this Independence Day without going far from home. Both Winfield and Arkansas City will host their annual celebrations as well as a number of area communities.
Keith Wohlgemuth has been designing and setting off displays for more than 20 years and will be presenting shows at Newkirk tonight, Winfield on the 4th, and in Ponca City Saturday night.
The Winfield Rotary 4th of July celebration and fireworks display is special for Wohlgemuth. Winfield is home, and that’s where he began presenting his displays – first at Special Olympics, then at the former Winfield State Hospital, and now at the Southwestern College stadium.
The gates open at 7 p.m. followed at 8 p.m. with a welcome and at 8 p.m. te Winfield Municipal Band will perform patriotic music. The fireworks will begin at dusk.
"We’ve got $8,500 worth of fireworks – pretty much the same as last year," Wohlgemuth said. "I shot at twilight last year…because the rain was coming from Wellington. This year, they’ve predicted more rain."
Wohlgemuth admits he’s been "touched a little bit" but denies he’s ever been hurt setting off the fireworks.
"My ears have rang a time or two but I’ve never actually set myself on fire," he said.
In Arkansas City, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 6 will host the Independence Day celebration as the lodge has been doing since 1982, Ark City Police Det. Jason Legleiter said.
Richard Traffas organized the events for many years but has retired and passed the baton – or matches – to Legleiter.
"He put on good shows for a lot of years," Legleiter said. "This is my first year to help organize (the event)."
The show should go on at 9:30 p.m. or "darkish" as Legleiter said. "The darker it is the better."
He and other FOP members will be working from the Spring Hill Golf Course but there are a number of good "watching" locations about town.
"One of the best is at 3105 N. Summit at the First Assembly of God Church," Legleiter said. "Their church starts at 5:30 p.m. and goes to dark with water slides and different foods – and it’s free to the public."
The FOP got a good price on fireworks this year from a new company in Ponca City. Past shows have cost $15,000 but the same show will cost $12,000 this year, he said. KACY Radio will provide music for the show.
"I’d like to thank everyone who contributed. If someone still wants to contribute… it will go into an account to help get ready for next year’s show," Legleiter said. "Contributions are always welcome."
He estimated the show will last between 15 and 20 minutes and said while the FOP organizes the event it’s the citizens "who make it happen.
"I think everyone enjoys it a lot. This is a great country and people are very patriotic," Legleiter said. "The chamber has gotten calls from people outside Ark City wanting to know what time the show starts. It’s good to know that people are going to come and watch."
