By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times
If you enjoyed the fireworks display at Wilson Martial Arts and Fitness in Olive Hill this year, you should say thanks to the members of the Carter County Tourism Board.
Allen Wilson of Wilson Martial Arts and Fitness spoke to the tourism board during their special, called meeting on Monday, June 23. Wilson made the board aware that he puts on an annual Fourth of July fireworks display behind his business in Olive Hill and requested that the board help with a grant for this year’s display.
“I started about five years ago just to set off some fireworks for my martial arts students,” Wilson told the board.
Wilson said that he put the information out on Facebook, and before he knew it many more people that just his students and their families began showing up for the fireworks display.
“Before we knew it, the parking lot at the high school and the middle school was full,” Wilson said.
The following year Wilson said that he decided to add free music for those showing up for the fireworks, and his business paid for the musical acts.
“I think last year we had 800 or 900 people show up. And this year we are looking at even higher numbers.”
Last year there was such a good turnout that all the food vendors completely sold out of food, he said.
Wilson said the event was popular with a lot of different groups from school athletic teams to people simply wanting to get information out to the public about their own businesses.
“So, we are trying to keep adding more,” Wilson told the board. “This year we are going to have free bluegrass music and country music and a Bigfoot calling contest at the fireworks.”
Normally what Wilson does not personally fund is covered by sponsors, but due to challenging economic times he is concerned that some sponsors might not be able to return or might sponsor less than in previous years. It was to this end he told the board that he was seeking sponsorship from them in the amount of $2,000. The tourism board voted to sponsor the free fireworks event for the amount requested.
The board also discussed a request from the Orange Army Bluegrass organization for their Country on Tygart event, and voted to approve that request. The board also agreed to allow the Carter County Fair to use their big screen to do a drive-in movie style event on Tuesday during the week of the fair. The fair board planned to, given the use of the equipment, have a drive-in at a cost of $10 for two people or $20 for a carload.
The board also had the final reading of their budget for the upcoming year and voted to approve it as presented. Making a budget proved challenging, given that the board only had one previous year budget to compare against, but the board discussed this, and all board members felt confident that the proposed budget would prove viable. The board did end the fiscal year in the black, which provides them with a firm financial footing moving forward.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
