No end in sight for heat

Holts Summit cancels fireworks show, EOC issues no-burn advisory

After a week of record-setting temperatures in mid-Missouri, many governments and safety organizations aren't taking any chances.

The City of Holts Summit announced Friday it had canceled its annual Fireworks Festival Show that was slated for July 3 at Greenway Park. Later that same day, Callaway County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) issued a county-wide advisory "strongly urging residents to avoid any outdoor burning during this period of hot and dry weather."

The National Weather Service has a heat advisory in effect for the area until Sunday, and predicts temperatures in the 90s or 100s well into next week with little or no chance of rain. The Missouri Department of Conservation has also issued a fire ban in all state conservation areas. This all follows the Fulton Fire Department issuing a city-wide burn ban Thursday.

Holts Summit's decision to cancel their show came after a meeting with Mayor Lucas Fitzpatrick, the mayor pro-tem, city administrator, fire chief, police chief, police lieutenant, maintenance superintendent and the pyrotechnician, where it was decided the dry conditions would present too great a fire hazard.

"Like many other communities in the nation and the state of Missouri, the current weather conditions have caused concerns about having a fireworks display in our park area," said city administrator Brian Crane in a statement. "After meeting with local officials, the city has decided it is in the best interests of our community to cancel the show in its entirety."

County emergency director Michelle Kidwell said the Callaway County Emergency Management Agency's advisory would be in place at least until today, but that she anticipated it would be extended throughout the week without rain to dampen dry conditions.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.