No Fireworks Show For One Oklahoma Town

The sky over the town of Pryor will not be lighting up with fireworks this Fourth of July.

"Kinda shocked because we were planning on going," said Pryor resident, Pam Nixon.

A local church planned to host a fireworks show at the high school football stadium, but Superintendent Don Raleigh says the district was not aware of the church's plans, so they decided to put new sod on the field.

Since no one can walk on the $30,000 sod for a few more weeks, the show had to be canceled.

"We came out here last year and enjoyed it, but I guess we're not doing nothing this year," Nixon said.

The city tried to compensate for not having a show by passing a new ordinance that will allow people with permits to shoot fireworks within city limits.

But since the council did not include an emergency clause, the new law cannot go into effect until 30 days after the legal notice is published in the local paper.

Unfortunately, that day happens to fall on July 11th, which is obviously too late for the 4th of July festivities.

Although some see this as a bummer, other's are cashing in on missed opportunity.

"We're anticipating greater sales this year because there is no display for the city, so we're anticipating a larger turnout for people to do their own personal fireworks show," said John Donnelly.

Donnelly sells fireworks right outside of the city limits.

"It's the fourth of July, people are going to buy fireworks—ban or no ban, their gonna do it," Donnelly said. "We haven't seen an effect the last three years of being here. People are going to buy fireworks."

The town of Salina, which is about 10 miles east, is the closest fireworks show to Pryor.