Fourth of July clean up no blast for Grant School

By Don Bowen/Fremont Tribune
Tuesday, Jul 07, 2009 - 11:03:01 am CDT

Not everybody got a blast from the holiday festivities. In fact, at least two groups found the Fourth of July to be a real dud this year.

Grant Elementary School second-grade teacher Kathy Shields said when she got to the school Monday morning to get her classroom ready for the start of classes, she found the playground covered in fireworks debris.

“There were all sorts of things all over the playground,” said Shields, who said she has been teaching at the school for 35 years. “There’s paper all over left from fireworks. There’s smoke bomb stuff, empty containers, cigarettes, liquor containers, glass, everything. It’s a mess here, and it’s like this every single year.”

Shields, Principal Greg Borland and the school’s custodian, Beth Radtke, cleaned up the mess Monday afternoon.

“We’re trying to get our school back in shape for our students again,” Shields said. “We have a short vacation anyway. We don’t need this thrown in.”

Teachers at Grant Elementary School report back on Thursday with students returning a week from Wednesday.

“So, we don’t have a lot of time for this,” she said, suggesting the neighbors need to take some ownership in the school.

“If they’re going to do this, they need to come back the next day and clean up the mess they’ve left. They could use it to teach their children to take pride in their neighborhood, like a community service effort.

“I was hoping to come back to the school today to get my room ready,” she continued. “But I’m spending it in the sun cleaning up the playground for our children. I have a broom out on the asphalt sweeping up the playground.”

But it isn’t that easy of a cleanup because the district’s maintenance staff have mowed the lawn, shredding pieces of the fireworks debris.

“We’re going to be cleaning this for a while.”

Events Saturday had a different outcome for the staff of Fremont’s aquatic centers.

Both Splash Station and Ronin Pool were only open for a short time Saturday because unseasonably cool temperatures kept swimmers away, said Fremont Parks and Recreation Department director John Schmitz.

Only about 50 people were at Splash Station Saturday from its noon opening time until it closed around 3 p.m., he said. Splash Station policy gives staff the option to close the park if fewer than 25 people attend during any hour.

Ronin Pool was open for about the same time period with the same result.

National Weather Service meteorologist Josh Boustead said Saturday was not a typical July day.

“We didn’t even hit 70,” he said. “The high Saturday was 69, well below the normal high. The normal high is 87.

“We had an upper level system, slow moving, that got stuck in the area. Saturday, we had a lot of clouds over the area throughout the day which inhibited any surface heating from the sun. It would have been cool anyway, but clouds kept it cooler with some lingering showers and drizzle all day.”

That put a damper on the activities at Splash Station and Ronin Pool, Schmitz said.

“We just really didn’t have people come out that would have come out. Saturday is typically the busiest day all week, but things got better after that. We had about 500 people at Splash Station on Sunday and Ronin Pool was busy, too.”

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Amazed
Jul 7, 2009 11:32 AM
We were always taught to "leave it better than when you found it". Apparently someone needs to teach "some" of the Grant school neighbors that saying. People never cease to amaze me. They always think someone else will clean up after them. How many children watched as these "adults" walked away from such a mess. Thanks for the lesson moms and dads! And truly a thanks to the real adults who cleaned up for the children.
THANK YOU!
Larry Fiehn
Jul 7, 2009 11:54 AM
You mean it isn't illegal to shoot off fireworks on the property of the public schools or on any public property? Well, there's a needed new law. Better yet, do like some more progressive areas and ban possession and use of all fireworks but public pyrotechnical displays. It makes it so much nicer in the neighborhoods and much safer for everyone!
John
Jul 7, 2009 1:01 PM
It's not illegal to shoot off fireworks on the property of the public schools or on any public property ... it's disgraceful that they left all of their trash behind!
Chris
Jul 7, 2009 1:56 PM
Before you accuse every neighbor of Grant school of littering get the facts first. I am a neighbor of Grant and for years I pick up trash and debris all year from around the playground equipment when I take my son over to play. There was a great display put on over here at Grant on Friday, and the people that put that together were out there on Saturday morning cleaning their mess. Of course that wasn't on the playground area.
Common Sense
Jul 7, 2009 2:27 PM
How about instead of manually sweeping the playground which would take forever, why not use one of those mowers with a brush on the front for moving snow. I'd think that would work nicely for sweeping a playground. Work smart, not hard to get attention to make the paper.
Caesar
Jul 7, 2009 5:53 PM
Who cares...give-me-a-break. If this is all you have to complain about, then thank the lord.

It's a public place...taxpayer $$$s...if the maintenance depart. would not have mowed the yard, this may have went quicker - but no blame there right?
Dodge County Iron Fist
Jul 7, 2009 7:14 PM
It never ceases to amaze me. Every year the same thing, fireworks garbage in the streets and all over my property.

Also, you ever notice how people who don't seem to have enough money to pay the rent or put food on the table, allways have a never ending supply of personal fireworks to shoot off. I guess you have to have priorities (as I roll my eyes)These are also the same types who don't clean up the mess afterwards.

I say we start writing our 49 State Senators and encourage them to end personal firework sales in Nebraska. Just think about it; the 4th of July and no garbage all over the place or explosions going off all through the night. I know it won't stop people from bringing fireworks in form other states, but it will at least rollback some of the insanity.

Let's leave the firework displays to the professionals.
bright idea
Jul 7, 2009 8:59 PM
If this is such a problem EVERY year, then maybe the city police should be making this area a priority! It is a sad day when we have to clean up after others. Part of our childrens' firework experience is cleaning up afterwards and teaching them how to safely dispose of them. We as a nation fall short teaching our children in many areas, why should it be any surprise that this is one of them? Thanks to everyone who does take the time to clean up the mess.
OldGrantStudent
Jul 8, 2009 8:25 AM
Maybe we should call this next generation the generation of entitlement! Free to do what you want without repercussion. I remember getting my bottom whooped if I stepped out of line with my parents, what happened to that? Anyways, thanks for cleaning up after those ignorant people.
Caesar
Jul 8, 2009 1:28 PM
The generation of "Entitlement" is your generation...today's 10-yr-olds are not responsible for a 10 trillion $$$ deficit, nor are they (likely) going to receive what they are paying in to SS - b/c you're taking it out.

What do I value more...a clean July 4th or not being indebted to China for $4 trillion...hmmmm...what's important here.

Tired of people making inaccurate statements when it is YOU that is responsible for entitlements. That is part of the problem, lack of responsibility.
Come on
Jul 8, 2009 1:32 PM
Your right Bright Idea... let's make the police patrol that area to stop it. Come on don't they have enough to do around here ecspecially on the 4th. And for Larry... like we need another law.
I think we need to just be responsible and pick up. We don't need the "Firework Police" to supervise and make sure that adults are picking up their mess. If we just talk to eachother and say hey can you pick that up when your done or pitch in instead of trash talking this city. I personally cleaned up the block after we were done and made a difference. I did not enable the people who didn't pick up I talked to them as I was picking up and asked them to help. Guess what....IT WORKED.
Oh and Iron Fist that would work but fireworks stands sometimes benefit the local youth groups (like The Bowling Club) so how would you propose funding these?
Amazed...I like the way you said it. Leave it better than when you found it. Also like you said as adults we need to set examples of how we are benefiting the society. It is common sense to me maybe we need to put pressure on other adults and keep them responsible for the actions....oh that would be to easy let's make a law or ban it.
Come On
Dodge County Iron Fist
Jul 8, 2009 3:22 PM
Another reason to end personal fireworks sales in Nebraska.

Just came down off the roof of my house. I found plenty of fireworks, which landed there from my neighbor's little show in the street. Thank goodness a fire did not start.

A family up in West Point was not so lucky. Some fireworks landed on their roof and started it on fire. Check it out on West Point News's home page.

Also, I heard that a fire started at a residence in Washington Heights from fireworks. Anyone else know what happened?

Thank goodness Fremont has a good Fire Department.
GOOD IDEA
Jul 8, 2009 4:01 PM
As a member of Fremonts youth. I have to agree with a few people! I mean NOT only with fireworks and the 4th! How many parents tell your kids not to drink? not another question... How many parents like to go out and get totally plastered and come home at 1:30 in the morning being so loud that you wake up your kids? yet you tell me not to drink.... Cdhildren learn by example!!! DUH come on now. The people are complaining that there is garbage left over from the 4th try putting your garbage can in your driveway and maybe if enough people do this people will start getting the hint! and to the people complaining about fireworks being lit on school grounds... What about the alcohol and tobacco usage! That is a law so lets not complain about something you cant do anything about and maybe do something about the things you can!!!! just my suggestions as a YOUTH of this country!!!
fremonter
Jul 8, 2009 4:13 PM
to OldGrantStudent:
what happened to that was the government stepped into our private lives once again and took over the steps we can and cant use to raise our kids. just another perfect example of how the idiots/morons of this country let and want the government to tell them every step to make.
B
Jul 8, 2009 4:24 PM
Oh for petes sake people. It is once a year. Not every day, week or even month. Once a year we as a nation whoop it up to celebrate another year of independence. I for one cannot think of a better reason to celebrate execpt for peace on earth and lets face it that's not realistic. So lets all just have some fun this one time a year we have the whole rest of the year to be quiet. I do think we should take responsibility for this time and clean up after ourselves. I would think an litering law we have would already cover this.
wise old man
Jul 8, 2009 4:24 PM
to Amazed
I agree with you, Leave it better that you found it.
You haven't been to the state lakes after a holiday or weekend
cans, bottles, trash and dirty dippers all around even on the ground at the base of a dumpster and on the beaches.The men that work there deserve a big praise for cleaning up YOUR TRASH
John Doe
Jul 8, 2009 7:35 PM
This generation? im tired of hearing all this stuff about the generation coming up being free to do whatever they want because that is false. If that generation did whatever they wanted you would have bigger things to complain about other than fireworks. If we are going to point fingers, then thanks to all the people who did drugs in the 60's and are influencing my children to do the same, really thanks.

The police arent going to watch out for people not picking up fireworks because there to busy looking for minors drinking, instead of looking for drunk drivers or things that really matter for that fact.
john
Jul 9, 2009 10:34 AM
As a college educated adult who has been out of a job for 6 months, i think this mess is great! It's job security for Grant school employees. What I wouldn't give for job security right now =-)
Big Bang Boom
Jul 9, 2009 5:59 PM
Get rid of fireworks?? Are you nuts?? 4th of July is tradition! My neighbors and I had a blast this year. I can't imagine not having the smell of smoke balls in the air, or snake burns on the sidewalks, punks lit, fire-crackers, artillery shells flying up in the air, long sparklers, colorful fountain cones, ground blooms, roman candles and all the other colorful spinning flying new ones that they come up with every year! We save our money just for the 4th.

Responsible adults watching over children, a bucket of water or a hose near by and you are set to go.

I think sometimes people just get old and like to complain. If you remember back a few years ago, you probably liked fireworks then. Now your ears hurt, you go to bed by 6pm, everything within a 500 mile radius is going to catch fire and burn down to the ground.

After 40 plus years, I can honestly say I have never burned downed a house or started my hair on fire. (I do however have a little scar on the back of my upper leg from a pop bottle rocket during the 80's) I laugh when I think about our huge 4th of July gatherings and the parents used to hand out the long neck pop bottles just for pop bottle rocket fights. Okay, maybe that wasn't the smartest then and it certainly doesn't happen in todays times.

Long live the 4th! Its a BLAST!
OldGrantStudent
Jul 10, 2009 9:07 AM
to c:

So you are saying that my generation is at fault here? Look at all the industries that aren't here anymore, where were you on that one? How many articles of clothing that you have that have the made in the usa label in them? I for one go out of my way to find USA made items. I don't buy, if I can help it, china garbage. We lost the since of pride and let jobs go over sea becuase corporations sold out, who generation was in control of those companies? Yours or mine, I am 33 yrs old.
Andy Schnatz
Jul 10, 2009 9:54 AM
to all of you
why do we have to patriotic one day of the year Fly our flags all the time
and we really don't need fireworks to be patriotic
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