• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Bar owner raising money for Footville fireworks

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Karrie Laws, co-owner of the Toe Town Tap in Footville, has been raising money to bring fireworks back to Footville. The tickets on the wall have the names of people who have donated to the cause.

FOOTVILLE — Footville residents will have fireworks in their village for the first time since 2004 thanks to the fundraising of a local bar owner.

Karrie Laws, co-owner of Toe Town Tap, is well on her way to raising $5,000 for a fireworks show on Saturday, Aug. 29, after the village’s annual tractor pull.

“Everybody has missed the fireworks,” she said.

The village used to have annual fireworks the week prior to the Fourth of July, up until the village’s sesquicentennial celebration in 2004, Laws said.

“Then I don’t know what happened,” she said.

The village usually has its tractor pulls in downtown on the last Saturday in August.

“We usually have a crowd of people for that, so somebody suggested that since we already have a crowd of people, maybe we could do fireworks,” Laws said.

She volunteered to be “the ringleader” but said she wouldn’t do it alone.

“I’ve had tons and tons of support,” she said.

A poker run on June 6 organized by Dan and Gloria Powers raised $2,400. Local businesses donated to raffles and have been very supportive of the effort, Laws said. The village also donated $500.

Blue postcards that say “I supported Footville Fireworks” line the walls of the bar and other local businesses with names of donors.

“Every little $1 here and there has added up,” she said.

Laws has brought in about $4,200 but would like to go over the $5,000 goal so she can start a trust fund for next year.

“So next year whoever wants to take it (over), they don’t have as big of a challenge as we had. If they want me to do it again next year, then I know I don’t have to work as hard,” she said with a laugh.

The local band Chainsaw Curtis and the Creepers will donate their performance the night of the fireworks, Laws said. Profits from the Toe Town Tap’s beer tent will go toward the fireworks, and bartenders will donate their time, she said.

Laws jokes about how she used to come to town on Mondays to get eggs when she lived in the country, but she never left.

“Everybody’s always been there for me,” she said of her inspiration to help out. “It’s just such a giving community. If there’s anything I can do …”