Fireworks show short on money

The annual “Smoke on the Water” July 4th fireworks celebration is only a little more than halfway funded as of Monday, a press release from the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce said.

The show usually runs about $1,000 per minute, officials said, and it lasts about 20 minutes. At this time, about $8,000 is still needed to put on the show.

“A lot of people make a holiday of it,” said Liz Eisenbraun, marketing and special events coordinator for the chamber. “I think people may not be aware it’s put on that way (by donations).”

For the last two years the chamber has handled the money side of the show, which is held July 4th at the Greene Acres Park, she said. Before that, local businessman Tom Martin handled it exclusively, but he is still heavily involved in the planning and coordination of the event.

Before Martin started planning the fireworks show, there were a number of years when Clovis didn’t have one, Eisenbraun said.

“We basically do mail-outs to solicit for the donations for the fireworks,” she said.

With a little less than a month to go until the show, donations can be sent directly to the chamber at 215 Main St., Clovis, N.M. 88101, or can be dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce.