Bell's Family 4th Celebration

Final preparations are underway for the Bell's Family 4th Celebration. Between 8 and 10,000 people are expected to turn out for a day of family, fun and fireworks. <br><br>News on 6 reporter Steve

Thursday, July 3rd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Final preparations are underway for the Bell's Family 4th Celebration. Between 8 and 10,000 people are expected to turn out for a day of family, fun and fireworks.

News on 6 reporter Steve Berg says they're putting the final touches on a very elaborate setup. You might be surprised at all the work that goes into these shows. Alan Johnson with Western Enterprises says they've got about 1,000 rounds of fireworks.

At about 20 bucks a pop, no pun intended. So, it's pretty simple math. A $20,000 show. It will go for about 15 minutes.

It's not the biggest show they do, but they put a lot of hours into it all the same. The actual detonation of the fireworks is a lot simpler and safer than it used to be. In the old days, they would have to light them by hand, but these days, it's all done electronically, from a distance.

Alan Johnson with Western Enterprises, "It's pretty simple, if we're going to go to rail one, which is right over here, we start rail one, the lights come on that tells us when they fire, and then we go to 2. I don't push the buttons because I forget where I'm at. I let some of these other guys do that."

When all is said and done, it takes four people working 10 or 12 hour-days for a solid week to put together a show that will last 15 minutes. But for them, the oohs and the ahs make it all worthwhile.

Bellâ€™s Amusement Park will be open 1 until 11 PM Friday for fun and fireworks.

If you're there between 3 and 7 PM, be sure to drop by the News on 6 "Cool Zone" and say â€˜hiâ€™ to Casey Norton, LeAnne Taylor, Dick Faurot, and John Holcomb.