Permit issued by judge allows for fireworks show near levee

A fireworks show will be held Wednesday night in Widener after a permit was issued by St. Francis County Judge Gary Hughes.

According to a letter issued to Billy Hillis, 196 SFC 400, the show will be held on County Road 400, which is near the St. Francis River levee between Madison and Widener. In the letter, Hillis said the event had been approved by Widener Mayor Arvin Billingsley, and the Widener Fire Department will be present for the event. 

“This is something that Mr. Hillis does every year and he went to the judge himself and asked for the permit. The judge contacted us to make sure that the proper precautions were going to be taken, and we also had to agree to have the fire department out there for everything. We agreed, but this is only for the show that Mr. Hillis is putting on,” said Billingsley.

Last week, the burn ban was put in place due to dry conditions and hot weather.

According to a map from the Arkansas Forestry Commission, the entire state is now under extreme wildfire danger and 70 of the 75 counties in the state are under burn bans. The only counties not under a burn ban are Calhoun, Desha, Drew, Little River and Sevier.

Hughes also granted a permit Monday to allow a candlelight vigil to be held at the Turner Circle Apartment Complex for Miranda Bogard, who was killed early Saturday morning in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 40 in Lonoke County. Bogard, 30, was a resident of the apartment complex along with three passengers in the vehicle who survived the accident.

According to St. Francis County District Court officials, the fine for violating a county burn ban is $115. Those discharging fireworks in Forrest City could receive a $90 fine for the misdemeanor crime.