Making things happen

Every community needs people who can make things happen.

The last two weeks, we’ve seen a prime example of that. For the second time in five years, it looked like New Prague would be without a fireworks show for the Independence Day holiday. While some groups of people were aware that the fireworks did not have a sponsor, an article in the June 8 issue of The Times drew people’s attention to this.

And a group of people stepped forward to make things happen. Noah Stephens, an 18-year-old New Prague resident and member of the Minnesota National Guard, started a Facebook campaign to raise money for the fireworks, and Paul Busch and the board of the American Legion Park Ballroom put the efforts of their group behind that campaign. They contacted RES Pyrotechnics and the business said they would be able to provide the fireworks for the community many of its employees call home. Once word got out, donations started coming in and one donor - Jeff Belzer of Jeff Belzer’s Auto, agreed to pay the cost of the fireworks that would be part of the show. The organizers still need donations to pay for the cost of insurance and other associated costs for the show, but the story here is that due to the efforts of some determined people, the community will have its traditional fireworks show on Monday, July 3.

Without people like Noah Stephens, Paul Busch and Jeff Belzer, this fireworks show may not have happened. Thanks to these people, as well as to the folks at New Prague Ceska Louisville Insurance, who stepped up four years ago in a similar situation. The community owes you all a debt of gratitude.