County bans fireworks sales, use

The sky, as well as firework stands, will be bare this Fourth of July, and citizens are warned not to take the county fireworks ban lightly.

“There will be no warnings on fireworks,” Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said. “We will file charges on people.”

Donley County Judge Jack Hall signed a disaster declaration last Wednesday, part of which banned the sale, possession, and use of fireworks. The judge’s order was good for only 60 hours, but Gov. Rick Perry approved the county’s request to extend the ban through July 5, 2011, at 7 a.m.

The ban not only impacts patriots wishing to celebrate the Fourth of July celebrators but also people who make money from annual fireworks sales. That inlcudes the Jesus Name Apostolic Church, whose members say they understand the need for the ban.

“The ban is disappointing,” church member Beverly Burrow said, “but we had already made up our minds before the ban in respect of others not to order anymore fireworks if we didn’t get any rain. I think the ban is wise and so does my husband as well as most everyone in our congregation.”

Fireworks sales have been a long-running fundraiser for the church.

“We’ve had our stand for 20 some years, and we usually help fund missionaries with most of the money we make,” Burrow said.

Perry’s decision to extend the judge’s ban came at the recommendation of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

County commissioners also extended Hall’s disaster declaration at their regular meeting on Monday, otherwise it would have expired after seven days.

The disaster declaration cites the lack of rainfall and continuing hot, dry conditions as posing the threat of large wildfires which could endanger “lives and property on a large scale.” It also states that current conditions make the threat of disaster “imminent.” Clarendon has had barely more than half an inch of rain this year.

As of this week, bans on fireworks have been either passed or are pending in 23 Panhandle counties.

In other county business Monday: Commissioners approved the July Fourth Celebration on the Courtyard; renewed the Texas VINE service for 2012; accepted a bid of $450 on tax delinquent property at Lot 4, Saints Roost II from Charles and Debbora Sharpton; and distributed budget worksheets to elected officials and department heads to be turned in by July 11, 2011.