WOODTV.com & WOOD TV8 - Grand Rapids news and weather - July 4th Celebration may fall victim to economy
One of the biggest summer events in Grand Rapids is in jeopardy. Organizers of the annual Fourth of July celebration say they may have to cancel the event this year because of the poor economy.

As of now, the fireworks and the rest of the Independence Day celebrations are canceled.

Organizers say the loss of Spartan Stores, one of the event's major sponsors, and a $10,000 bill to help the cash-strapped city of Grand Rapids cover overtime costs, were too much for the other sponsors to absorb.

"It's hard to find someone to pay $60-65,000 for a five hour event in an economy where it's just tough-going right now," said Glenn Delvecchio, Marketing Director for Clear Channel Communications and Chairman of the Fourth of July Celebration Committee.

And it's not just the Fourth of July celebration in doubt. Organizers with Celebration on the Grand say the event's 25th anniversary parade may not step off as planned. The city's overtime costs and the lack of a donor to cover those expenses has put the parade in jeopardy. A final decision on whether to march will likely come in May.

Following that story on the news was a commercial from George telling me how things were oh-so-much better. Now I'm all confused.

" America is moving forward. You can kiss your Fourth of July goodbye. I'm George W. Bush, and I approved of this message."