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4th of July planning in full gear

Vanessa Dietz/For the Gazette, File Families took part in the children’s portion of the Fourth of July parade in South Range during 2017.

Planning for the Fourth of July celebration that has happened in South Range every year since 1906 is well under way.

“It will be our 113th year this year,” said Mike Renier, chairman of the committee in charge of the events.

The event will include the usual parade, games and races and fireworks, but this year, the committee is adding outdoor music and an Elvis impersonator.

“We’re having the Outlaw’D band,” Renier said. “That’s something new.”

The band will play from 6-10 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in South Range, and the Elvis Presley impersonator will be in front of Tina’s Katalina from 12 to 2 p.m.

Even more is being considered, but it depends on the cost, and the amount the committee can fundraise.

In addition to the new musical performances, the committee has two other new costs. The first was the purchase of a metal container for the fireworks to be stored in.

The third was purchasing event insurance, which creates an additional cost to each added element of the event.

The new items add about $1,600 to the total cost of the event.

Renier said the budget this year is about $10,700, depending on what other features and activities are added. The fireworks alone cost about $6,000.

With the new costs also come new ways of raising money. The committee is selling T-shirts and beverage koozies, as well as collecting Econofoods receipts.

T-shirts, with a list of business sponsors on the back, can be purchased for $10. Koozies cost $3. Raffle tickets to win cash and gift certificates to local businesses are also on sale, $1 each or six for $5, and Econofoods receipts will be collected at the South Range village office.

The committee has also been working to secure private donations from businesses, nonprofits and individuals.

Other members of the planning committee include Terri Parolini, Theresa Luokka, Joe Morgan, Adam Hayranen, Kim Hayranen, Anton Pintar, Duane Pangrazzi, Dan Komarzec and Katie Bridgers.

You can make a donation or purchase koozies, t-shirts or raffle tickets by contacting the committee.

“Probably the easiest way to contact us is through the Facebook page,” Renier said.

The page is ‘South Range 4th of July Committee’, they can also be contacted by emailing Renier at mren@ureach.com, by mail at P.O. Box 217 in South Range, or by calling the South Range village office at 906-482-8833.

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