Red, White & Boom! Lights Up The Skies

COLUMBUS—Red, White & Boom! drew sizable crowds to Downtown Friday night for the 29th presentation of the largest fireworks display in the Midwest.

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Groups of people were along the Riverfront early Friday morning, getting the first viewing spots for the fireworks.

Events started at 10 a.m. and crowds were gathering in Downtown streets as the afternoon moved along.

Storm Team 4 meteorologists Jym Ganahl and Ben Gelber said it was some of the best Boom! weather they could remember.

The Red, White & Boom! Independence Day Parade drew thousands of people along the route that started on Broad Street at COSI, headed east and north on Front Street.

Several Columbus suburbs and communities took part in the parade and offered their own Independence Day salutes.

The 24-minute-long fireworks, which began at 10 p.m., featured patriotic music and a tribute to Central Ohio’s military heroes.

NBC 4 will rebroadcast the biggest Independence fireworks display in the Midwest, Red, White & Boom! at 3 p.m. Saturday.

This ½-hour show will feature Boom’s spectacular fireworks in its entirety from the National Anthem through the Grand Finale.

Next year’s Red, White & Boom! is scheduled for Friday, July 2, 2010.

Red, White & Boom! is presented by NBC 4, WNCI 97.9, Pepsi and Meijer, and sponsored by more than 30 additional local, regional, and national businesses.

LOST PETS
An already full Franklin County Dog Shelter has been making space for the expected influx of dogs that may bolt during Fourth of July celebrations.

Extra employees were scheduled, and the dog shelter was set be open Saturday, July 4, to handle any found dogs. The county dog wardens were scheduled to be out at 3 a.m. Saturday.

If your family loses a dog, chances are, it will be at the shelter. Go to http://www.co.franklin.oh.us/commissioners/ancl/ for more shelter information, including an address and phone numbers.

Director of Community Relations Susan Smith said to check with the shelter to see if your dog has been found. She said nine times out of 10, dogs and families are reunited this way.

Smith said owners should plan to keep their dogs inside a quiet room, but if they will be outside, owners should stay with their dogs to keep them safe.

Check the dog’s collars now to make sure the contact info is correct, and keep the collar on the dog.

Search your neighborhood first, tell your neighbors to be on the lookout and then file a lost-dog report in person with the shelter.

The shelter does not take lost-dog reports over the phone.

You also can post a lost report at http://www.petfbi.org.

You also can post messages to Central Ohio pet owners about lost or found pets on nbc4i.com. Click here to post a message.

Watch NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for complete coverage of Red, White & Boom!

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
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