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Published Monday, July 06, 2009 in Local
Jackson music debut highlights Rotary's Newnan celebration
By Ellen Corker
The Times-Herald
Newnan marked America's Independence Day with style, capping off a day of festivities with a patriotic parade and community celebration.
It was a chance for families to relax together as they awaited the evening fireworks show at Newnan High School's Drake Stadium. Thousands gathered in the stands and in groups of folding chairs or on blankets, enjoying a pre-fireworks program by local performers the Musicologists headed by Doug Kees. Helping rev up the crowd was the Newnan High School Band drum line.
As time neared for the evening's main event, there was presentation of the colors by a Georgia State Patrol honor guard, complete with bagpiper leading the way. Among the speakers, a reminder of our nation's future came with a group of young students brought by state Rep. Lynn Smith, so the crowd could hear their young voices repeating the Pledge of Allegiance.
But the addition to the celebration that brought a quiet over the crowd was a new recording of the nation's anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, done by country music star and Newnan native Alan Jackson. The rendition in Jackson's mellow tones made its world debut at Newnan's celebration. "It is all yours," emcee John White of the Newnan Rotary Club told the gathering.
White gave a big "thank you" to Cathy Wright, director of the University of West Georgia Newnan Center, who talked her famous brother into making the recording for his hometown celebration.
The big fireworks show by Atlanta Pyrotechnic International Inc. was coordinated with a music soundtrack put together especially for the show. It was given to the company to select fireworks that portrayed the songs. But unlike some of the larger shows that are fired electronically, the Newnan fireworks are coordinated by workers lighting the big shells by hand.
The effect was spectacular during the half-hour show, with bursts of red, white and blue at the appropriate times or flower-like displays during softer sections. It met with cheers of an appreciative audience.
Earlier in the evening, Mainstreet Newnan's annual parade departed downtown Newnan at 6 p.m., leading the way out LaGrange Street to the stadium. Grand marshals this year were members of the Veterans Memorial Plaza committee, the group that planned the recently-dedicated addition to the Newnan city park at Jackson Street and Temple Avenue.
Awaiting at the stadium were fields for youngsters to run, play and work off some energy. There were several bounce houses and inflated slides to enjoy, along with clowns and artists making balloon animals -- all to create a family-friendly atmosphere. The Rotary Club had concessions for those who wanted a snack or cool drink.
"We had a great evening of fun for all who came," said Rotary Club President Doug Cantrell. "I had several people approach me with positive comments about the evening ... I had one man stop me from Florida and commend us for such an event. His comment was he had lived in Florida all his life and never experienced such a wonderful evening for his family provided at no cost."
Doug Kees was joined for the evening entertainment by fellow musicians and instructors Torrie Boyd, Lacy Yates, Patrick Thompson and Bob Boyce. A stage was set up opposite the main stands, and this year's fireworks show was launched from Waterworks Road behind the stage.
The annual event is coordinated by Newnan Rotary Club with funding from the city of Newnan, Coweta County and local businesses.
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We had a fun. It was a great event. The fireworks were good. It was fun. Rotary and everyone involved did a good job. I had a good time with my family and look forward to next year.
Posted by had fun at 3:19 PM
We always enjoy the great family atmosphere at the Fireworks, but did not enjoy the people that were smoking beside the field. Only heard one announcement made regarding NO Smoking on school grounds. Also noticed Newnan Sheriff did not enforce the rules either as he stood with a group of people as they smoked. Why do we have rules and who is there to enforce them. Would have moved, but was already settled with my group before the smoking group arrived. Maybe signs along the fields, etc posted next year would be helpful and someone enforcing the school rules!
Posted by Allergic to Cigarette Smoke at 11:12 PM
My two sons (one of which is an active-duty Marine) and I sat on what we thought was great spot on the turf just at the baseball diamond backstop so we could relax and enjoy the music and fireworks. Unfortunately, we could not hear ANYTHING once the music/radio/band stopped and the festivities began. Why not utilize the speakers atop the concession stands or the ones atop the backstop fence at the baseball diamond? Not being able to hear what was going on was very disappointing. The lack of ability to hear the speakers, the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and music accompaning the fireworks made us decide to leave early. Come on Newnan - I remember coming to football games when I was younger and you could hear the game being called blocks away away - WHY couldn't we hear from right at the baseball field? If there was a plan to allow for proper sound for EVERYONE, the plan failed. If there was no plan, then that's poor planning. Even the young lady wearing a Rotary shirt commented that she "was low on the totem pole" and "didn't think anything could be done." And, I don't need comments about it being a "FREE" show - the City of Newnan also contributed money which means taxpayers PAID.
Posted by vague at 7:18 PM
Resident of Senoia, I agree about the speaker. One additional note, could they have rode Alan Jackson's coat tail anymore? I bet they mentioned that guys name about 50 times, and he wasn't here! Got there early and it was easy getting in, but was hard to get out since they were stopping all traffic for pedestrians.
Posted by Joe Schmoe at 6:13 PM
Um, the fireworks weren't THAT great. I think you guys should've stuck with having them go off electronically. The finale was pretty disappointing and the speaker for the evening liked hearing the sound of his own voice. Did anyone else catch the fact that he referenced Newnan as "NEWNAN COUNTY"???
Posted by Resident of Senoia at 2:48 PM
I really enjoyed the evening! Fireworks were great as always and Jackson's version of the national anthem was one of the best I've ever heard. Except for the off-key lady next to me that thought she should join in.
Posted by b at 10:39 AM
would have been a great idea to have anyone entering the stadium to bring 1 can item for the food pantry
Posted by grateful for what I have at 7:09 AM
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Newnan Sheriff?
7/11/2009
Link To This Comment
Never knew we had one of those? We do have the county sheriffs deputies who wear brown uniforms. We do have Newnan PD which wears dark blue uniforms. The officers/ deputies were busting their butts on the 4th. Smoking was the least of their worries when you consider what else was happening. But yeah you probably didn't notice the drinking and cars gotten knocked into did you? Officers did ask people to stop smoking. But with such a hugh crowd minor offenses get overlooked sometimes.
Posted by New Peach at 12:14 PM