SAVE THE PITTSBURG INDEPENDENCE BLAST!!!

By LYNDA STRINGER
news@campcountynow.com

The Pittsburg-Camp County Chamber of Commerce has tentatively picked up the baton of sponsoring
the annual Pittsburg Independence Blast that faced dark skies for the first time in decades.
The fireworks show was canceled after CASA let it go in September of 2017 and there wasn’t another
local entity that was going to be able to take on organizing the event. The Chamber’s leadership found
out its fate on Monday and jumped into action to find a solution.
The Chamber board voted at its regular meeting Tuesday afternoon to resurrect the event on the
condition that they could raise 50 percent of the seed money needed - $7,500 – by Friday. The price tag
for a nearly 20-minute display would be $15,000.
“We have three days,” Board President James Wallace said. “Our board will feel comfortable if we can
have a commitment for half the money by this Friday and I feel confident that we can do it.”
A committee is already in place and Jackson and Board Member Holly McGraw are contacting all the
event’s previous donors to try to get the community back on board in time to host the event a short six
weeks from now.
Wallace said they are starting out with zero in seed money from previous years, although the Chamber
does have $1,500 in its coffers right now to put toward the event. Also, a local business has offered to
front the $7,500 to secure the contract from Pyro Shows of Texas out of Fort Worth, the company that
has done the show in the past.
After the company’s contract was canceled, they told Wallace and Chamber Executive Director Christine
Jackson Monday night that the they were booked for that date as were several other companies.
However, Jackson received a text from the owner Tuesday morning telling her they were going to be
able to do it after all.
“It’s a big coup to have pyrotechnic display on the 4 th of July,” Wallace said.

Jackson said Cypress Springs does a show on June 30, Gilmer has one planned for July 3, and people
come from all over the area knowing that Pittsburg has always had a large show on Independence Day.
Wallace and Jackson didn’t shy away from the challenge because of how much the fireworks have
meant for generations of Pittsburg families.
“I just can’t imagine not having it,” said Wallace, whose kids and now grandkids have gone to the
fireworks show every year since it started. “I just know how special it is for the community. If it’s special
for my family, I know it is for other families and I think if we get the word out, they will want to help pay
for it.”
To support the “Save the Independence Blast” effort financially or to volunteer, contact the Chamber at
903-856-3442.