(April 30, 2026 8:44 a.m.) UPDATED WITH CORRECTION:
With just over two months until the nation celebrates its independence, Adair County is still trying to determine a location to host the annual fireworks presentation.
The county government was told by Lindsey Wilson University in January that there could be construction taking place at the former fairgrounds and it would probably not be available this year for the 4th of July event. LWU purchased the property several years ago but has allowed the annual fireworks display to continue.
County Judge Executive Larry Russell Bryant told the fiscal court in January that his son-in-law owned property across from the public school campus and he believed they could use that for fireworks with spectators parking on school grounds. He agreed to look into that possible location as well as any others that might be available.
In a recent column in the Adair Progress, Bryant blamed county treasurer Melinda Quinn for the issue remaining unresolved, writing that Quinn dropped the ball to get proof of insurance needed by the school district.
That accusation has proven untrue, however, after the Community Voice obtained documents from the school district and spoke with the parties involved.
The school district did request information prior to April’s school board meeting, because the board would need to approve the use of school property. The county would need to provide insurance to cover the use of school property and give details about what would take place on school property.
Bryant had named two possible different land owners during fiscal court meetings, one of which is his son-in-law. Quinn told the Community Voice she was told to provide proof of insurance, but up until last week she did not even know who owned property that Bryant planned to use for the celebration.
Quinn said she had not been provided any documents or details she could list on insurance documents and no contracts had been drawn up with the parties involved.
In addition, meetings were taking place with discussion about adding food trucks and possibly even a stage where announcements would be held.
“When details were handed out of what was going on, on the school property…at that time, that is when all the insurance policy would go into play,” she said.
When questioned by the Community Voice, School Superintendent Jason Faulkner said his board had not said it would be opposed to people parking on school property for the fireworks presentation, but they did not want food trucks. As of the April meeting, the only document they had received protected the fireworks company but not the school property.
“They could go back and redo that, but I think they decided they wanted to do it at the Jim Blair Center,” he said.
Faulkner said the school board could still consider the proposal during the May board meeting, but they would need specific documentation that complies with the district’s policy for facilities use.
Quinn said there is still time to pull everything together and get the legal documentation and insurance in place.
That was partially addressed during Tuesday’s fiscal court meeting, when the court voted to approve the contract with the fireworks company and to potentially hold the event at the Little League park with parking at the new fairgrounds.
Bryant recommended the fireworks be held at the Jim Blair Recreation Center, but magistrates questioned where spectators could park. Bryant said owners of adjacent property may allow parking there, but he did not get that approved prior to the meeting.
Three locations had been identified as safe locations, which were the Blair Center, a location across from the school campus, and the Little League park.
Reeder recommended the Little League park and said he had already talked to Mayor Pam Hoots because the city owns the property. The city council would need to approve the proposal, but Reeder said the mayor did not think it would be an issue.
Bryant said tourism is interested in hosting food trucks, but Reeder said the Fair Board would be interested in making their property available and possibly hosting some events of their own for families prior to the fireworks.
Reeder made a motion to make plans to use the Little League park but name the Blair Center as a secondary location if they do not get approval from the city. The motion was approved.
By Sharon Burton
snburton@adairvoice.com
