Police prepared for Civic Center traffic
With thousands of people expected to attend the annual Dr Pepper fireworks show around McMinnville Civic Center Thursday evening, police will once again be regulating traffic in the area.
According to McMinnville Police Chief Joe Melton, traffic will be routed counter-clockwise in a one-way fashion around the Civic Center area beginning shortly after 7 p.m. The show itself begins at 9 p.m.; however, some motorists wishing to get prime spots often arrive as early as 7 p.m.
The streets effected by the traffic pattern are the streets which border the Civic Center including Clark Boulevard, Club Drive, Sunset Drive and a portion of Garfield Street. The traffic pattern will remain intact until about one hour after the event. The special traffic pattern is designed to allow access for emergency vehicles.
Melton is asking motorists to use caution when nearing the Civic Center due to the numerous pedestrians, including many children, who will be walking along the roads.
In addition to asking motorists to use caution, police are requesting people do not bring their own fireworks. According to Melton, people who shoot fireworks in the densely occupied area are risking the safety of others.
“Someone could get an eye put out or be hit in the face and injured by fireworks which are set off in the crowd,” Melton said. “People need to leave their fireworks at home and just come and enjoy the Dr Pepper show.”
Anyone caught shooting off fireworks around the crowded area may be cited into court and fined. There will be several policemen patrolling the crowd Thursday evening.
DOWNTOWN
2002 Fourth of July Downtown Celebration
7 to 10 a.m. – Breakfast on the Square
7:30 a.m. – Stars and Stripes Fun Run/Walk
8 to 11 a.m. – Children’s Corner
• Park Theater open house
• Heritage Alliance’s “Dunk a Candidate”
8:30 a.m. – Petsville U.S.A.
9 a.m. – A Patriotic Salute
9:05 a.m. – Presentation of flags
9:15 a.m. – Silver and Gold Band
10 a.m. – Pioneerette performance
Walking tour of the Riverside Cemetery: Meet in front of the Chamber of Commerce
10:30 a.m. – Yankee Doodle Children’s Parade
10:50 a.m. – Warren County High School Color Guard
11 a.m. – Fourth of July Window Decorating Contest
• Pick up entry forms for the Fun Run/Walk and the Yankee Doodle Parade at McMinnville Civic Center, the Chamber of Commerce, Union Planters Bank, and First National Bank.
FAIRVIEW
Fairview CIC Schedule
8:30 a.m. – Flag raising ceremony
9 a.m. – Ball games
10:30 a.m. – Ball game awards
11 a.m. – Kids games
1 p.m. – Baby and beauty show
3 p.m. – Pet show
3:30 p.m. – Mini tractor pull, music
6 p.m. – Fairview Jammers
8 p.m. – Fireworks
• Food will be served all day. Pie baking entries must be
submitted by 9 a.m.
MIDWAY
Midway CIC Schedule
10 a.m. – Opening ceremonies, registration for baby show, citizenship award (winners will be recognized and honored throughout the day)
10:30 a.m. – Pie Contest
10:30 a.m. – Baby Show (Ages up to 36 months) Categories in months: 0-3; 3-6; 6-9; 9-12; 12-18; 18-24; 24-30; 30-36)
• Horseshoes
• Quilt Show
• Pet show follows baby show
12:15 p.m. – Guest speaker Lincoln Davis (U.S. veterans attending will be recognized and honored on stage)
• Entertainment – The Warrens
• Shelly and Johnathon Womack
1 p.m. – Game booths for children
2 p.m. – T-ball games
7 p.m. – Fireman Award
• Gene Dunlap Sportsmanship Award
• Humanitarian Award
• FCE Quilt Giveaway
• Entertainment – Rendition of the Soggy Bottom Brothers
• Ball Games
10 p.m. – Fireworks
• All local politicians are welcome to attend and spend about two minutes on stage to introduce themselves to the crowd. Concession stands will be serving hamburgers, fries, barbecue plates, soft drinks, homemade pies, homemade ice-cream, etc.
MORRISON
Morrison CIC Schedule
4 p.m. – Opening flag ceremony presented by American Legion
4:30 p.m. – Firecracker Baby Show for boys and girls with age categories from birth to 36 months
5 p.m. – Barbecue, hamburgers, hot-dogs and ice cream
Traditional games for the children including sack race, egg-throwing and cracker-eating contests
6 p.m. – Bingo and cake walk
7 p.m. – Cloggers; Jason Gross and the Sound Machine
9 p.m. – Fireworks