JACKSON BOARD APPROVES EXPANDED JULY 4TH EVENT

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen heard details Monday of an expanded Jackson Jaycee July 4th and Jackson Birthday Celebration.

The board also approved a request to close one block of South High Street for the May 30 Memorial Day Program and approved the purchase of a tract of land for the new water tower along Interstate 55.

Phil Johnston, a member of the Jackson Jaycees, said this year's Independence Day celebration "will be bigger and better than ever."

Johnston said the mud volleyball competition has been expanded from two to three mud volleyball pits. The antique car show also has been expanded to include antique trucks and motorcycles.

Other events now scheduled include a horseshoe tournament, kids and adult games, a kiddie pedal tractor pull, and attendance prizes -- which are new this year. The celebration will conclude with a $3,500 fireworks display.

Johnston said there will be no July 4th parade this year.

The board approved its annual birthday donation of $1,000, which will go toward the fireworks display.

The request to close off one block of South High Street near the city's cemetery was made by the veteran's organizations sponsoring the Memorial Day program that will be held in the morning.

City Administrator Carl Talley told the board the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department has notified the city that Jackson's request for I-55 business loop signing has been approved.

The "business loop" signs will be erected at the Fruitland and Center Junction interchanges to identify the Business 55 loop, which will run along Highway 61 from the Fruitland interchange, through Jackson, to the Center Junction interchange.

Talley said, "This is a recognition that we have waited for, and has been a long time coming."

In other business, the board approved the purchase of just under three-quarters of an acre of ground along the west side of I-55, north of Center Junction, for the city's new elevated water tower. The 140-foot tower will hold 300,000 gallons of water. Construction of the water tower is expected to begin late this year.

Alderman Dave Reiminger reminded the alderman that today's Optimist fishing rodeo at the Rotary Lake in the city park will be the last fishing event at the lake for several years. The lake will be drained this month for lake renovation. A fishing pier for the handicapped also will be built at the lake as a result of a grant awarded to the city by the Missouri Department of Conservation.