Krista Corner Havre Daily News kcorner@havredailynews.com
Let freedom ring. A parade, a concert, picnic and fireworks display are planned for this year’s Independence Day celebration. Plans for a parade were tenuous at first because Montana is no longer willing to provide liability insurance on roadways maintained by the state. Havre City Council member Allen “Woody” Woodwick said Mayor Bob Rice has decided the city will cover the liability insurance, enabling the parade to go on. “He’s been all for it from the beginning,” Woodwick said. Rice was not available for comment today. Woodwick has begun calling local bands interested in performing at Pepin Park. His band, Blind Luck, will be providing the sound system for the bands. Donations are still needed for a planned free picnic at Pepin Park, which may not happen, Debbie Woodwick said today. “What we try to do is not hit up the grocery stores all the time because they always get hit,” she said. She and her husband Vince have been trying to solicit donations from private citizens for hamburgers and hot dogs. So far, she said, they’ve received 14 hamburger patties. “I would suggest people still bring something, just in case, because we have no idea,” Debbie Woodwick said. She said they could begin receiving donations as early as today from those they’ve solicited. Interested donors should contact Vince or Debbie at 265-4877. The Havre Jaycees has been working to fund the fireworks display by selling fireworks at a booth at the Holiday Village Shopping Center. Jaycees president Christy Owens said today is the Jaycees’ third day of sales. “We’re off to a good start for the first two days of sales,” she said. “We’re hoping sales increase as the week goes on.”
