photo by Adam Drey, UNL intern Mortar tubes strategically placed on at center field cool off after a nearly half an hour long fireworks display at Plum Creek Park. Mel Bolte used and electrical detonation device to launch the shells that shot anywhere from 300 to 600 feet in the air.

by Adam Drey, UNL intern

    For more than a half-century Mel Bolte has helped Seward conclude its town-wide festival with a bang.
     This was Bolte's 51st year coordinating the fireworks show and one of the biggest shows yet.
     The giant fireworks salute kicked off just in time for a live broadcast on Lincoln's Channel 10/11 ten o'clock evening news.
     Bolte and his volunteer team shot off $9,000 dollars worth of fireworks in just under a half-hour from a baseball field at Plum Creek Park.
     Money for the pyrotechnic display, collected by the Fourth of July Committee, primarily came from donations. The rest was obtained from the craft show registration fees, firework stand registration fees and portions of food alley sales and carnival rides.
     According to Bolte, the committee purchased all of the show's materials from China, and then he and his volunteers built what they could.
     Bolte and a volunteer team of around nine crafted custom ground displays that lit up throughout the show. The handmade display effort began early last week and featured the state of Nebraska and a blazing Old Glory.
     Six volunteers and Bolte were present Tuesday night and helped gang-fuse and ignite the Independence Day celebration.
     Artillery shells ranging from three to six inches in diameter were sent up electronically by Bolte from only 15 feet away, while the smaller rapid fountain shots, called barrage boxes, and ground displays were lit by two teams of volunteers with road flares.
     "That was the most we have lit in the shortest amount of time," Bolte said.
     According to Bolte, larger shows, such as the Omaha's show at Rosenblatt Stadium done by the Gucci Company, are controlled entirely by electronic wiring. He said they also have a much larger budget and shells up to 12 inches in diameter.
     The home-grown show was designed for the hometown audience on the hill of the park and was preceded by a performance by The Brass Company.
     At 8 p.m., four parachute jumpers safely slid on to the ball field and were congratulated by Bolte as he and his crew were making last-minute preparations. The last jumper flew the American flag while he sailed down to earth and as the National Anthem was sung.
     Bolte, semi-retired from the wholesale petroleum industry, said this year might be his last. However, his wife reminded him that he said that last year.