Wheaton Calls Off Fireworks Due To Damage From Sunday Storms
UPDATED 7/3/2012 2:17 p.m.
WHEATON, Ill. (CBS) -- While the drought has forced some suburbs to cancel fireworks this year, Sunday's storms have halted the parade and the fireworks in Wheaton.
As WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports, the drought that left grass and plants dry and flammable forced towns such as Antioch and Cary to cancel fireworks.
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But in Wheaton, the fireworks originally set for Tuesday night and the parade that was to be Wednesday have been are canceled for a different reason -- the safety threat from downed poles and power lines and trees all around the north side of Wheaton.
"The fact of the matter is that the fireworks and the parade are being cancelled because we have an inordinate amount of power lines down and an inordinate amount of trees down," said Michael Benard, executive director of the Wheaton Park District.
Benard said the City of Wheaton had no choice but to cancel the fireworks as a safety precaution.
"We're very, very fond of our traditions and it's a special day in town. And it stinks to have to cancel it, but it's the right thing to do," said Michael Benard, executive director of the Wheaton Park District. "And we'll recover from it."
Benard says Wheaton will be out "a little bit of money" for canceling, but he says he doesn't think it's a large amount.
He says the plan is to reschedule the fireworks -- soon.
Also, for a complete list of fireworks shows in and around the city, go to cbschicago.com/fireworks.
