No Fireworks Display For Wheeling This Year
WHEELING, Ill. (CBS) -- One Chicago suburb is cancelling its July 4th fireworks display, but it has nothing to do with budget problems.
WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports north suburban Wheeling has spent about $50,000 a year in donated money to put on an elaborate Independence Day fireworks show, but not this year.
Although the village has the money for the program, there's nowhere to hold it this year.
Village president Julie Abruscato said Wheeling's Heritage Park is currently undergoing a major reconstruction, and unable to host the fireworks display.
"We could not plan fireworks, because we have no place to shoot the fireworks," she said.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports
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Abruscato said, as far as she can remember, it's the first time in the past 45 years that Wheeling won't be having a fireworks show.
"It's a change, but we'll get through it," she said.
Abruscato said she's heard some complaints about the decision to cancel the fireworks this year, but not many.
"Most people understand," she said. "We also are looking forward to when the day comes when all of that is done, we will have the best and the biggest fireworks on 4th of July."
That might not happen until 2014, as the work at Heritage Park and a companion flood control project could take a year and a half to complete.
