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Published Wednesday, July 06, 2011 in Local
Special
Braxton Parks watches the Newnan fireworks on Monday from the front door of his home on LaGrange Street.
The Show Goes On: Thunderstorm dumps rain on fireworks show
By Ellen Corker
The Newnan Times-Herald
Watching the fireworks in Newnan Monday evening was better done from the front doors of nearby LaGrange Street area homes than in Drake Stadium — with a thunderstorm arriving during the highlight of the Fourth of July celebration.
Weather radar about a half hour before the scheduled fireworks indicated storms were heading around Newnan, but a sudden shift brought ominous clouds from the west as late arrivals made their way to a good viewing spot in the stadium area.
A light rain as the Main Street Newnan Fourth of July parade got under way around 6 p.m. made for cool and pleasant conditions for the pre-fireworks festivities. The parade led the way to the annual celebration and fireworks held at Newnan High School’s Drake Stadium, hosted by Newnan Rotary Club with financial help from Newnan and Coweta County.
The clouds darkened as the pre-fireworks announcements were made. Coweta County firefighters hoisted the American flag, and there was a special playing of the National Anthem, which emcee John White said was recorded especially for the Newnan Rotary celebration by country music star and hometown hero Alan Jackson. State Rep. Lynn Smith brought a group of youngsters to lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, and there was a crowd countdown to the fireworks show.
Just as the first bursts lit up the sky, they were joined by lightning bolts — and the storm clouds opened, pouring drenching rain over the stadium. For a few moments the crowd watched the show in the rain, but the lightning eventually sent the majority of the crowd running for cover.
People ran to their cars, or those who had walked to the festivities ran from spot to spot, ducking behind the stadium seating or under tents and building entries to take shelter from the lightning.
The fireworks show went on during the storm, but those huddling in doorways could see little of the bursts above the rooftops of the Newnan High buildings.
Parents shepherded groups of children as they ran through the downpour, which continued for slightly over an hour.
Commenting on this story has ended.
Would people still be being accused of whining if someone had been stuck by lightening and killed? Just sayin.
Posted by Simon at 4:58 AM
Really, does the PD need your defense? I have enough public service friends to know what they go through. They chose to do the job and all the bumps that come with it. I appreciate their service. I'm still not going to feel joyful about my infant and toddlers shivering and soaked for an hour in an electrical storm when it could've been 20 minutes. When a guy pulls up and says he needs to get his kids, what's the harm in letting him vs not? The PD was doing a fine and brave job serving. I would have liked more cooperation in getting my kids protected. It's bygones. The kids had fun anyway and learned a little more about our fabulous country.
Posted by Amy C at 3:15 AM
Thanks for providing an opportunity for families to come out and celebrate America's birthday. Sadly, the storm moved in just in time for the fireworks. My daughter and I heard the thunder, saw lightning, and immediately headed to the car. How many times has Glenn Burns said "if you hear thunder you're close enough to be struck by lightning." we took responsibility for our own safety and simply left. Thank you to all the law enforcement officers who worked the event. I hope it is not cancelled due to all the naysayers on here who did NOT take responsibility for their own safety.
Posted by Leslie at 2:36 AM
Lady in the know...just curious how do you know Tim Coleman is a local minister?....I know a Tim Coleman and he is not a minister! Just wondering!
Posted by WWJD at 1:54 AM
Mr/Rev Tim Coleman,
Your comments are very Christian-like. One would expect less judgement regarding the politicians and rotary volunteers from a minister of a local church. Those volunteers and politicians are also Christians in our community.
Posted by A Lady in the know at 12:41 AM
It's sad to read all these comments. What a bunch of jackwagons...You live in America--the land of the free and the brave---And people didn't die for your freedoms so you can complain about fireworks.
Posted by God Bless America at 12:36 AM
Why do they continue to have the fireworks at the high school. Why not move them Ashely Park. There is plenty of parking in either parking lot. Just makes sense, doesn't it?
Posted by Not Complaining at 12:28 AM
Amy C. - just remember while you are mad at Newnan PD for making your husband drive in circles IN his car and you had to wait UNDER an awning - that police officer that was following orders was getting soaking wet and standing in the middle of a road while the lightning was striking within feet of him. A simple thank you would have been nice!!!
Posted by soaking wet at 12:20 AM
Most of you simple got alittle wet. Boo freaking hoo. A lady got sick and needed medical attention. In an effort to help her a firetruck responded to the scene. A lady decided to go around said firetruck and struck an police officer. People are so selfish. Maybe the fireworks need to be cancelled for good. Too small an area for such a large crowd.
Posted by Moondrops and honeydew melons at 12:07 AM
I enjoy the fireworks from my car after it thundered. Thank for my country, our freedom and our military protecting us. Our little sacrifice to watch the fireworks is a choice. Remember the sacrifices that our military give each day you are able to wake up and go to work without a worry. Thank a soldier!
Posted by Wise One at 11:44 PM
i went to franklin for the fire works show it was call 1 hr before it starts newnan could have done the same bad call on newnan part.
Posted by plm at 10:08 PM
It is a shame that so many people didnt watch the weather but at least i can say that i went to the franklin fireworks and yes they were cancelled and moved to sept. 11th but they were cancelled well ahead of time to at least let everyone get to their cars. That would be because while all the families were enjoying all the festivities they could on the square someone else was watching the weather and even had fire trucks going through and announcing they were cancelled well ahead of time. Fact is take some advice from a small town!!
Posted by Tiffany at 9:47 PM
Dear Rotary Club,
Most of us know and appreciate all that you do for our local citizens. We also know that due to the economics we currently live with that you are having a hard time financially but chose to give this gift as you have for so many years. Please read these comments and consider canceling this FREE gift in the future. You do so many things for your community that ARE appreciated by many. (And no, Mary, I am not the father - or mother - of anyone involved. I just appreciate all that you are given even if you don't).
Posted by Hobbs at 9:31 PM
I keep reading all these negative, whining comments - just realize that:
the weather CAN'T be controlled,
the Rotary Club members VOLUNTEER to put this event on,
the Rotary Club has $95. in available money,
Newnan Police officers who work this event are spending time away from their own families,
AND - many Cities & Counties eliminated 4th of July Fireworks, due to budget cuts.
YET - most of the comments made are Thankless, Self-Center Whining!
All you complainers: find a worthy cause and VOLUNTEER!
There's plenty to do, maybe you'd WHINE LESS!
Posted by Newnan resident at 8:58 PM
One more thing to add. I just read another article in the paper regarding four homes that were struck by lightening on Monday. I think every person on here who has made a negative comment about the show needs to focus their attention on those poor families. That is a far worse situation than getting wet.
Posted by A concerned Citizen at 8:04 PM
Seriously everyone needs to stop critizing the fireworks show. Yes it stormed very badly and yes it could have been very dangerous. Here is the thing, the people who put on this show do not plan the weather. That would be mother nature. You knew it was going to rain. If you didn't then you need to go back to elementary school and get a lesson in weather. Next time it rains stay home.
Posted by A concerned Citizen at 8:00 PM
Amy, the PD did the jobs they were supposed to do. AND they all got completely soaked and miserable out there directing traffic to keep the masses safe...and all you can do is whine because your husband couldn't turn on a certain road. Could you not see the lightening approaching? really? Because everyone else could see it and I for one had sense enough to leave in time to miss most of the storm. How about next time you stop to think about those officers and what they do for all of us here before you speak and don't blame your poor judgement on the good law officers of Newnan and Coweta County? Good grief!
Posted by Just A Peach at 7:50 PM
I agree that people chose to go and then complain. I would have liked to go but just assumed it was cancelled and if it was not that it wouldn't be worth going to in a thunderstorm! I didn't check the weather or try to find out. I just looked at the sky from my porch and saw that it's not a night for fireworks. For those of you who did go it is a shame it was clear all day and a storm came in as soon as it got dark! I wish this state would just legalize real fireworks for personal use!
Posted by AP at 6:31 PM
For all of those who went to the show...you excercised your choice. It's nobody's fault but your own! You don't deserve to celebrate the Fourth of July--
Posted by Live free or die at 6:26 PM
I have been in past years and have always been turned off by the political speaches, cut out the speaches and we can have more music, no one came to hear the politicians.....
Posted by Andy at 6:06 PM
We were at a friend's house on Lagrange St. I could hear the warning thunder & see the high cloud lightning for a good 30 minutes or so in advance of the start of the fireworks. I assume organizers could, too. No one controls the weather but they could've moved up the start time. Isn't that a big DUH?
Posted by Regular Reader at 5:41 PM
We didnt come to listen to politcs and speechs. We came for a good time with the family and to watch fireworks. Thanks for talking us out of a fireworks show guys.
Posted by George at 5:27 PM
In the old days we would have had the people doing all the talking and delaying the show and the organizers put in stocks and had a nice long line of people wanting to throw rotten fruit at them! It was a fiasco and they should be made to apologise and reschedule another show out of there own pocket.
Posted by Old Timer at 5:20 PM
Why is the fault of the Newnan Police Dept. for your poor planning ? Why don't you call the Newnan P.D. and tell them next year you will need you very own plan for leaving. I am sure Everyone one else will appreciate your needs first!!!!
Posted by Put Amy C. First at 5:15 PM
We need to hold the organizers responsible for the dangerous mess they caused. Vote out the politician whom talked and delayed the show come election day. If she and others cant organize a fireworks show then they certainly shouldnt be running local goverment!
Posted by Tim Coleman at 5:13 PM
Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.
source unknown.
Posted by 6Pack/Newnan at 5:09 PM
Everyone wants to blame someone for their stupidity, fact is you are grown and you make your own decisions, if you decided to stay then blame yourself. it wasn't like you didn't have any warning.
Posted by Pencil Pusher at 5:09 PM
As a tax payer Hobbs I am actually paying for it, even if it be in part with covering the cost of the police being there. Who are you btw, are you the MCs mother?! We will be at Peachtree Citys wonderful firework show next year, they dont do any talking there. They just get on with it and use common sense there.
Posted by Mary at 5:06 PM
We are big fans of the Rotary Club and have enjoyed their fireworks program for years.
This year, we saw the weather reports and the incoming storms and decided (ON OUR OWN), not to go this year. Why EVERYONE blames the Rotary Club for INCLEMENT WEATHER is beyond me -
ya'll have access to the same weather reports that I read, but YOU made the decision to go.
I read that the Rotary Club has only $95. in their till - it costs A LOT of money to put the fireworks show on. Don't bash the Rotarians, they spent a lot of money to put that show on - the weather is not in their control.
Posted by Newnan resident at 5:00 PM
Hey Hobbs, last time I checked it's pretty hard to charge for fireworks displays because nobodys been able to figure out how to build a wall high enough to block the view of the non paying public.
Posted by Billy at 4:48 PM
I also think if the "talking" part of the program had been moved up or removed, we could've seen the show we came to see. I think the valuable statements scheduled to be made could have instead been printed in the papers the next day or been featured throughout the afternoon activities.
Posted by Amy C at 4:03 PM
Overall it was a great adventure, but I'm irritated at the Newnan PD for putting more priority on traffic flow than the safety of my babies. We packed up to leave immediately but still got drenched. My dh ran a mile for the car while our 3 very small sons shivered under an awning with me for over an hour, with dangerously close lightning, because the PD refused to let my dh turn into the HS drive, making him drive huge congested loops to get to us.
Posted by Amy C at 3:57 PM
How in the world is this article "damage control?" Sounds pretty damning to me. Sounds like it was a horrible evening, and some horrible decisions by the people running the event - who aren't the county commissioners by the way. For goodness sakes, I'm so sick of the stupid conspiracy theories. The Rotary Club is in charge, and they're the ones who screwed up. Nobody else. And for sure there should have been some contingency plan - the school should have been opened for shelter. Thank God there were no serious injuries because there surely could have been.
A big mess, all around.
Posted by amazed by idiocy at 3:55 PM
Quit blaming the MC for being caught in the rain. The fireworks likely seeded the cloud and ignited the rainstorm. If he had talked for five minutes less, people still would have been caught in the rain leaving the stadium.
Posted by Light Fovea at 3:30 PM
The rotary Club and county put this on for the public (FREE) every year at great cost. You're hoping someone else does it? Not going to happen. With all these complaints from supposedly intelligent adults that can't watch the weather reports and make good decisions, I would think the Rotary Club might want to save their money from now on.
Want a big chunk of good cheese with your whine?
Posted by Hobbs at 3:29 PM
Billy said: "The Article...seems...to be an attempt at damage control and defend the fools"? That's what this newspaper does best.
Posted by William Robert at 2:55 PM
First off anybody could have ran to the high school's many shelters. Secondly nobody reported being struck by lightning. Im sure somebody would have reported that little bit to the police. Thirdly nobody forced anybody to sit and watched those fireworks. People could see it off in a distance. Why didn't you just start walking back to your car like most people did. Fireworks aren't worth my life that is for sure.
Posted by Moondrops and honeydew melons at 2:42 PM
It sounds like you need to talk to GOD about the rain and storm. The people who put on the show does not get to talk to him about his plans for the weather. Next year stay home and watch TV
Posted by superman at 2:35 PM
The decision not to start the fireworks early had to be a County Commission decision. Look at their track record of recent boneheaded decisions.
Posted by funny at 2:16 PM
My husband, myself and our two year old son tried to stay to see the fire works. It was his first time seeing "BIG" fireworks and we were so excited. I agree the pre-ceremony event were too lenghty and should have been ommited or atleast sped up but what was more concerning for me was the fact that there was no Plan B for shelter for the citizens. We left after about 3 fireworks went off trying to give our son a little bit of the show but still missing the storm. No luck as we literally ran for our lives while lightning struck all around us. As we were rounding the corner of the high school in a dead sprint we noticed a man lying on the ground unconcious. People were screaming he was hit by lightning. Our car was parked about 2 miles from the high school and we had no other shelter from the storm but the hope of our car. I was terrified as my two year cried under the towel I had placed over his stroller in an attempt to protect him from the down pour. I hope that man who was unconcious was ok and if anyone has any info on him please share. I hope next year goes better.
Posted by haley at 2:09 PM
Don't blame the organizers. If you were concerned about your family you should have stayed home and watched fireworks on TV. It began thundering early in the day. The risk was apparent when you chose to go. Don't blame anyone else for your choices. That's part of the problem with our world today. Take responsibility for your own actions!
Posted by smart one at 2:06 PM
Too much talking and delaying the start when you could see the storm approaching in the distance is unforgiveable. The article itself seems to try to put them in a good light. I was there and it really was as bad and dangerous as people are saying. Hope for a new and better crew to run this next year and definatly new mc. Awful.
Posted by Mary at 1:43 PM
As a mother of two young children who wanted to see the fireworks show at Newnan High Stadium, I make the decision to check the weather before we were to leave. I saw the radar and saw the storm system coming in and decided for myself and my children that going to an outdoor activity wasn't a smart thing to do. I'm shocked so many people still went to this event and then have the nerve to complain??!!
Posted by G.G. at 1:37 PM
The organizers put the people in a dangerous position. Not just with the lightening but with the crowd rush and almost crush they caused at the end. There was also the real danger of slipping in the rivers of rain which when you are holding a four month old is not good. On the way out in the car, several times we almost hit people running to get out of the storm. Amazing no injurys or anything worse occurred.
Posted by Adam at 1:35 PM
This is exactly why I didn't go this year! The last years I have been they talk, talk, and talk. It's more of a political show for them. Glad I didn't waste my time going this year.
Posted by NR at 1:16 PM
Its 2011!! Everyone there knew the storms were coming except the organizers, they kept to their schedule when they could've moved things up 30-40 mins to help get everyone out dry!!! With the lightening this could've been a very dangerous situation. Poor execution for sure.
Posted by TC Resident at 11:57 AM
This article doesn't even give a good perspective of the mayhem that ensued, its seems to actually be an attempt at damage control and defend the fools that let this show go on when it should have been called off with that storm approaching and postponed for another day,
the blowhard MC could have sped things up a bit instead of dragging out the 5 second countdown for over five minutes... when the rain started they were lucky there were no serious injuries to people. With that severity of weather in the area and the possibility of it hitting they could have at least made the auditoriums available for people to take shelter. A horrible ending to an otherwise great day.
Posted by Billy at 11:43 AM
Why on earth did they talk for thirty minutes after dark knowing that a storm was on the way. Had they started shooting fireworks at dark instead of talking so much, we could have seen the entire show!!
Posted by Confused at 11:39 AM
If the announcer guy had shut up after the flag was raised we might have been able to see all or atleast most of the fireworks. who cares if the city mayor and county commissioner was there, that guy should have said start the fireworks before the storm got there. Way to mess things up!
Posted by ridiculous at 11:14 AM
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Fellow event-goers...
7/7/2011
Link To This Comment
You made me proud! In spite of the fear and the hurry over the lightening and torrents of rain, I didn't see any shoving or trampling. On the contrary, strangers were helping us, people were in good spirits under the awnings, smokers were courteously spacing themselves from the kids, people were helping each other keep phones dry. Great job carrying on the joy of the day, in spite of the ominous circumstances.
Posted by Amy C at 5:34 AM