TOP PHOTO:  WLAF’s Charlie Hutson worked his photo magic Friday night June 5, 2020, during Pyro Shows “Celebrate Campbell County” performance.  In the two photos above, C-Hut captured the Depot Street fireworks show in Downtown La Follette on the left and the Midway fireworks show from the Roane State Campus on the right.
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The County Joint Economic Community Development Board heard a presentation Thursday evening from Pyro Shows owner Lansden Hill regarding a proposal for a Celebrate Campbell County Fireworks show for 2021.
 Hill discussed this year’s fireworks event.  “It gave reason for Campbell County to celebrate Campbell County,” Hill said.  “A lot of people from a lot of places in the county were positive about the event.  Based on the response we got we thought about doing it again next year,” Hill said.
Pyro Shows footed the bill for the 2020 Celebrate Campbell County and presented five shows around the county, with each show costing around $5,000.  Each show lasted about seven minutes.  Shows were presented at Jacksboro, Jellico, two locations in LaFollette and in Caryville.  Hill’s proposal is to do the shows again with the county, each municipality and Pyro Shows splitting the cost equally.
According to Hill, the cost of fireworks are expected to increase slightly and each seven minute show’s cost would go up around $500.  “We aren’t in a position to foot the bill again, but can co-sponsor it this coming year,” Hill said.  This would cost each city around $1,850 and the county around $9,000 if all municipalities participate.
“It brings in tourism dollars, our employees use it for training and we shoot fireworks in each area, so no community gets left behind.” Hill said, adding that he felt the Celebrate Campbell County event “provided an environment of unity and hope to our county during the challenge of COVID-19.”
Hill said the funds would not have to be in place until closer to the show.
Members of the Joint Economic Community Development Board said they were in favor of it, but only if the municipalities supported it as well in splitting the cost.
The joint economic development board voted unanimously to support the proposal and to provide funds to each city providing it is matched.
In other business, officers were also elected to the Joint Economic Community Development Board on Thursday night.  June Forstner was nominated and elected as the new chair of the Joint Economic Community Development Board.  Frank Wallace was elected as vice chair.  Kenny Baird was elected as treasurer and secretary for the board as well.
The board also approved $1,500 for the Shop with a Cop program.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 09/11/2020-6AM)

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