Othello postpones 4th of July fireworks

by CHARLES H. FEATHERSTONE
Staff Writer | June 2, 2020 8:58 PM

OTHELLO — There will be no official Fourth of July fireworks show in Othello’s Lions Park this year.

On Monday evening, the Othello City Council voted unanimously to postpone this year’s Independence Day fireworks display until New Year’s Eve, citing restrictions on the size of outdoor public gatherings that will likely not be lifted in time for the holiday.

“We need to set a date, so it’s not in the air like everything else is for people these days,” said council member Corey Everett.

“I’d like to see it on New Year’s Eve,” said council member John Lallas just prior to the vote. “It’s not the Fourth of July, but it’s the next best option.”

“It’s very sad to cancel that event on the Fourth of July,” said council member John Erikson.

Under Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s four-phase plan to reopen the state following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, public gatherings are limited to five people. In Phase 3, they are limited to 50 people, and only with Phase 4 are the restrictions on the size of public gatherings — even outdoor ones — lifted.

The council rescheduled for New Year’s Eve after several other dates — including an Oct. 10 Othello Chamber of Commerce event and the Christmas Parade in December — were discussed, as well as the possibility of simply having the show on July 4 but not let anyone come to Lions Park.

Police Chief Phil Schenck said, however, that holding the event in the park would draw people even if they weren’t allowed to come, forcing the police to enforce what would likely be an unpopular decision as well as exposing more people to the novel coronavirus and possibly putting Adams County’s Phase 2 status at risk.

“I don’t see that being a win for any of us,” Schenck said.

Mayor Shawn Logan said postponing and rescheduling the event wouldn’t cost the city any additional money, and that Othello is already out its $3,250 deposit on the $13,000 show and might stand to lose more if the council delayed acting.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at [email protected].