By AMY DAVIS & VERNON ROBISON
The Progress
The July 4th shows went on in northeast Clark County communities on Saturday evening, despite tight COVID-19 restrictions which made Independence Day celebrations difficult.
Community fireworks displays were seen in the skies over both Moapa Valley and Mesquite on Saturday night, to the delight of local residents. But traditional July 4th festivities in both communities were sized down to a bare minimum.
Moapa Valley festivities
At the Logandale Fairgrounds, where a full day of July 4th festivities are customary each year, only the evening fireworks show was held. The gates to the Fairgrounds were kept locked and access to the large lawn area was restricted to prevent too many people gathering in one area.
But residents assembled for the show on tailgates and camp chairs around their cars in the west parking lot of the fairgrounds. By 8:30 pm, as the sun set, around 100 vehicles were spread out across the parking lot with families complying with social distance requirements.
The evening began with a flag-raising ceremony completed by members of the VFW Elwood Perkins Post #8336. This was followed by the pledge of allegiance and a prayer led by the VFW Post Chaplain Larry Griffiths.
Audio for these proceedings, as well as the music for the fireworks display was broadcast over an FM radio station which could be received clearly by residents listening within a one-mile radius of the Fairgrounds.
July 4th Committee chairwoman Lori Houston announced the recipients of two traditional annual awards.
This year’s Moapa Valley Pride Award went to Moapa Valley Fire District Chief Stephen Neel.
“Steve was instrumental last year in separating the fire district off from the county’s oversight and it has made a huge difference,” Houston said. “This year, when we thought we weren’t going to have a fireworks show because of a change to county codes, Steve and County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick jumped into action and pushed for a waiver that put us back in business.”
The 2020 Moapa Valley Service award went to Logandale resident Larry Griffiths.
“Larry is involved in everything from JustServe, to MVRP, to the monthly Mobile Food Bank; and he even organized COVID-19 testing for the community,” Houston said. “He has done just a tremendous amount to help and serve our community.”
To open the fireworks show, the National Anthem was performed by father-daughter duo Rick Houston and Alicia Silva. Then the annual tradition of Moapa Valley fireworks lit up the skies.
Rockets over Mesquite
The City of Mesquite was treated to a spectacular free fireworks show by the Eureka Casino Resort on Saturday night. The annual show, entitled “Rockets Over the Red Mesa,” was just as brilliant and patriotic as ever.
But this event was also pared down to its bare essentials. The usual all-American buffet could not be served this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, the traditional street fair for local non-profits was not held.
Perhaps most disappointing was the cancellation of the Nevada Pops orchestra concert that has customarily gone along with this event. For the first time in 10 years, the orchestra was not in attendance.
“We sure miss having them here,” said Gerri Chasko, Manager of Resort Services. “We usually have the Pops come and all kinds of other things going on. But this year, people were still able to come, park in our parking lots and watch the firework show.”
The fireworks began at 9 PM with accompanying recorded music broadcast on an FM radio station.
Firework shows were cancelled and even banned in many surrounding states due to a summer-time spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
When asked how it felt for the Eureka family of employees to be providing a little bit of normality in a world full of turmoil, Chasko said, “It’s the Eureka Way. It is just what we do.”
