Fireworks shows set for Tuesday

Area residents can expect bigger booms at their parks on Tuesday night, according to fireworks event coordinators.

"It's pretty amazing how much we are able to fundraise in our community. I like to think that making that donation is a more fun and safe option than buying a whole bunch of fireworks. This gives us a way to celebrate as a community and in a safer way," said Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry.

He said Portales' fundraising goal for July 4 fireworks - at the Portales Softball Complex on Industrial Drive - was $11,000. The collection reached $9,800 late last week, "so we're still looking to close that gap."

"I just like the fact that we come together as a community to put on the fireworks. We get from a $10 donation from an individual to $1,500 from a local corporate business," he said.

Rooney Moon Broadcasting reached its goal of $23,000 for fireworks this year.

Jeff McNaughton, also known as "Duffy Moon" on the radio, said he shares Terry's love of community involvement for projects like the July 4 "Smoke on the Water" at Clovis' Greene Acres Park.

"'Smoke on the Water' is traditionally one of the largest community events each year. Although the radio station coordinates it each year, it is a community-sponsored event through community donations," McNaughton said. "Steve (Rooney) and I, when we were approached to take over the event from Tom Martin at Taco Box, we both got really excited about being tied into such a community-involved event."

McNaughton said the event was one of his business partner Steve Rooney's favorite events each year.

Rooney was killed in a vehicle accident in December.

"Steve was very patriotic, so celebrating that each year with the community he loved so much was important to him," he said.

Both the Clovis and Portales celebrations will include food vendors as usual.

Portales will have music via a sound system. Clovis features live music, with local bands performing from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Greene Acres.

Both fireworks shows are scheduled for 9 p.m.

Terry said there is plenty of parking to be had in areas other than the softball complex parking lot, including the grassy area on the west side of the complex and all the way back to the seniors citizen's center and the soccer fields, as well as a lot on the north side of the soccer fields.

He said the road will be blocked off on University Drive, but drivers will have access from Commercial Drive and Roosevelt Road 6 and from New Mexico 267.

Both shows will be planning to make up for some fireworks malfunctions last year, the two coordinators said.

"The show will be a little bigger this year due to us getting a little credit (for extra fireworks) from last year," Terry said.

McNaughton said the Clovis show will be about the same size as usual this year, but "last year's show was a little shorter because of a misfire, so we are excited to get back to what folks have expected from Smoke on the Water in years past."

"It's just folks coming together and having a good time and celebrating America," he said.