Please celebrate safely

This weekend, many of us will be celebrating the 245th birthday of the United States of America. Traditionally, this national holiday is filled with barbecues, fireworks, parades and concerts and this year will be no different. 

A full slate of events are on schedule for Valley this weekend including the return of the Festival of the Arts, the 3rd Annual Saratoga Days, the 3rd Annual Firewater Fifth, the inaugural Old Fashioned Family Carnival and so much more. Of course, we’ll also have the parade and fireworks.

Last year, we were cautioned to be safe due to the coronavirus pandemic. Masks were strongly encouraged, if not required, and social distancing was drilled into your minds. Sadly, the coronavirus is still with us and a delta variant is now making its way through the United States and even Wyoming. Still, restrictions have been lifted and people want to get out and do something.

It’s important to celebrate safely.

It is not uncommon to see alcohol at various events over the July 4 weekend and, while I’m not going to tell you not to imbibe, I will ask that you do so in moderation. Remember to drink some water and eat some food. And, finally, please do not drive if you’ve been drinking.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,339 drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes between 2015 and 2019 during the 4th of July and 38 percent of those drivers were drunk. Our highways are busy this time of year as out-of-state license plates fill the road alongside the familiar Wyoming license plates.

Making the important choice before hand to either walk downtown or find a designated driver could be the difference between you—or someone else—being able to celebrate July 4 in 2022.

There’s more than just drinking in moderation, however. A number of people may opt to avoid the festivities entirely and head into the mountains. That’s not a bad choice, either, but that also comes with its own cautions.

The Platte Valley is surrounded by the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and, at this time, the United States Forest Service has implemented Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. This means, among other things, that any fire must be in an authorized fire pit in an authorized campground. As much fun as it may be to camp away from everyone else and construct your own firepit, our forests are dry and in desperate need of moisture. We’ve already had one fire near Hog Park Reservoir and we haven’t had a summer in the past several years where there wasn’t a fire that hadn’t burned acres and acres of public and private land.

Finally, if you bought fireworks before coming to our lovely Valley, I’m sorry but can you please not fire them off? Fireworks are banned in Carbon County and have been for nearly three decades. I understand wanting to celebrate America’s birthday with a light show and, so, we’d recommend attending a fireworks show in Saratoga, Encampment or Medicine Bow.

I don’t want to be the “Debbie Downer” but our local volunteer fire departments have already had quite the busy summer and it would be nice to give them a bit of a break this year.

Hopefully I haven’t rained on your parade for this July 4. Be safe, have fun and have a Happy 4th of July!