Category Archives: Uncategorized

2025, Uncategorized

U.S. Geology Survey Helo Low Flyovers in Custer County Next Week

U.S. Geology Survey Helo Low Flyovers in Custer County Next Week

SilverWest Airport manager, Clyde Butler notified the community on Wednesday, that a survey helicopter will be flying low altitude grid lines in Custer County starting this weekend. The flights will continue for up to two weeks. The helicopter will be operating between 300 feet and 1,000 feet. The survey is federally funded by the U.S. Geologic Service.
According to Angella Farr, Geoprecision Surveys, “C-GZSX has already started flying near Fremont County, and we expect the survey to [last] a few weeks.”

Press Release
RESTON, VA. — The U.S. Geology Survey will conduct low-level helicopter flights over parts of southern Colorado to map critical minerals using airborne geophysical technology, beginning in mid-July. The airborne survey will be conducted through Fall 2025, weather and wildfire restrictions permitting, covering parts of Park, Chaffee, Teller, Fremont, Custer, Pueblo, and Huerfano Counties.
Flights may resume in Spring 2026 if needed.
The Colorado flights are part of a national effort to map the mineral resources needed to drive the U.S. economy and protect national security, searching below ground and in tailings from old mines. As directed by the Energy Act of 2020, the USGS has identified 50 critical minerals essential to the U.S. economy and national security, with a supply chain vulnerable to disruption.
Instruments on the helicopter will measure variations in the Earth’s magnetic field and natural, low-level radiation created by different rock types beneath vegetation and up to several miles below the surface. This information will help researchers develop geologic maps in three dimensions. In addition to critical minerals, applications include evaluating natural resources such as water, preparing for natural hazards such as earthquakes and radon, and characterizing legacy mining areas.
The aircraft will fly along pre-planned fight paths relatively low to the ground at about 300 feet (100 meters) above the surface in some areas. Experienced pilots who are specially trained and approved for low-level flying will operate the aircraft. All flights will occur during daylight hours and are coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure accordance with U.S. law. The ground clearance will be increased to 1,000 feet (300+ meters) over populated areas. The flights will be based out of Fremont County airport near Cañon City, and will fly over the towns of Gardner, Rye, Colorado City, Beulah Valley, Rockvale, Coal Creek, Williamsburg, Florence, Penrose, Brookside, Lincoln Park, Cañon City, Park Center, Goldfield, Victor, Cripple Creek, Midland, Guffey, Cotopaxi, Coaldale, and Howard. Surveying over wilderness areas in the survey block are subject to access permissions with the relevant agencies.
The aircraft will be equipped with an elongated “boom” that extends in front of the main cabin that houses sensors. These scientific instruments are completely passive with no emissions that pose a risk to humans, animals, or plant life. No photography or video data will be collected. The data collected will be made freely available to the public on ScienceBase once complete.
The flights could shift to other parts of the survey area as necessitated by adverse flying conditions.
The USGS has contracted with NV5, Edcon-PRJ, and Precision GeoSurveys to collect data.
The survey fits into a broader effort by the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, the Colorado Geological Survey, and other partners, to modernize our understanding of the Nation’s fundamental geologic framework and knowledge of mineral resources. Funding by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has facilitated coverage of such a large area. This effort is known as the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, and it includes airborne geophysical surveys like this one, geochemical reconnaissance surveys, topographic mapping using LiDAR technology, hyperspectral surveys, and geologic mapping projects.

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July 16, BOCC: State HWY Funding Cut, New Vehicles for SO

BOCC: State Highway Funding Cut, New
Vehicles for the SO,
County Work Week Brought Up

by George Gramlich,
News and Commentary
The July 7, 2025 (Correction/July 16)  Custer County Board of County Commissioners meeting started at 9 a.m. in the meeting room at All Aboard Westcliffe. All three Commissioners were present: Chair Bill Canda and members Lucas Epp and Paul Vogelsong.
Before Commissioner Items, Canda talked about how this meeting and once a month going forward will be staff and elected officials reports where all those reporting are encouraged to attend so everybody would know the various statuses and issues from the individual departments. He also mentioned that he wanted to start discussions on returning to a five-day work week for the County.
In Commissioner Items, Epp said all the big money allocated to the improvements on Highways 69 and 96 have been cut by the state. He said it doesn’t look good in the future as the state is cancelling
projects due to budget shortfalls. He is also looking at the County’s vehicle fleet as there are a lot of vehicles not being used.
In Elected Officials report, Sheriff Rich Smith was first in line with the Sheriff’s Office report. Smith started his report noting the Sheriff’s Office (SO) doubled the amount of traffic stops and tickets written since last year. (Good news!. Main Street looks like Daytona Raceway sometimes.)
After the Texas flood disaster, Smith said a Deputy will review safety with all our local camps. He asked everybody to sign up
for “Everbridge”, the County’s emergency alert system.
Smith said since the armed confrontation in front of the Sentinel during the Sentinel’s Flag Day celebration, he will be having an
all-day seminar on safety for all security members of our local churches.
With regard to the SO’s patrol vehicle fleet, Smith said his goal
is to get rid of all vehicles with mileage over 100k due to maintenance issues with vehicles with that much mileage. He said that he has a total of seven new vehicles coming in with four or them being paid for by a small group of local citizens. (Wow. Thank you.) With regards to the big trial coming up for the alleged triple murder, Smith noted that the new District Attorney, Jeff Lindsey, was doing a great job and that the DA’s Office is running much better that before.
The County’s Treasurer, Virginia Trujillo, was the next presenter. She made an alarming statement that the Polis regime is considering eliminating the Senior Citizen Homestead Property Exemption savings in our annual property taxes! She said it might happen next year. (Nice. Punishing our senior citizens to spend the money on the welfare state.)
Our County Assessor, JD Heinrick was next. He commented that his new Assessor system is going real well. He said that the state has/will be raising residential tax rates for homeowners. The money would go to local schools. (Polis is punishing landowners so the state can reduce its funding to schools.)
Dominic Edginton gave the Custer County Veteran Services Office report. He said the VAG grant he gets has been cut in half ($30 to $15k). Good news is that the Custer County American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars both got $60k grants from the VA. Dominic noted that 40% of the vets he sees are from Fremont County. He signed in 111 new grant applications in June.
The Human Resource Department’s report was delivered by its Director, Bob Smith. He has been reviewing the staffing levels of all the departments in the County to see where they stand. There have been four applications for the vacant Planning & Zoning Department Director’s position. The switch over from the in-house processing of the court’s Useful Public Service workload to a private administrator is looking good.
Vernon Roth gave the Finance Department’s report. The regular county audit process is doing good. He is getting a bunch of RFP answers for hiring an outside consultant, on a regular basis, to assist our Information Technology (IT) Department.
IT’s report was given by John Mapes (Many of the presenters at the meeting gave John glowing reports on his assistance to them.) John said he is continuing to look at switching the County’s phone system to VOIP instead of the Centurylink service currently used.
Planning & Zoning was next. They did 19 septic inspections in June. They are continuing to work on the Golden Arrow subdivision (off of Oak Creek Grade) where there are a bunch of non-permitted occupations (three squatters) taking place. (P&Z said they need a Deputy when they go there.) The squatters were given 30 days to vacate.
No big news at the SilverWest Airport. They are getting ready for the big air show. Their new website (which was done with help from the Tourism Bureau whom they gave thanks to) is up and running and being well received.
The Landfill reported their first half of year gross revenue was $153k. They had to put out a fire on one of the trash truckers that dump there. (Probably a lithium battery.)
Recycling reported a big uptick in volume. Year-to-date gross sales were $15k and they made 150 bales during that time.
In Public Comments, a County employee zoomed in and complained that Canda’s mention of looking at going back to a five-day work week was done without any County employee input. “No transparency” was mentioned. Canda responded that he brought up the subject just to get the discussion going.

The next meeting is July 23.

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July 9 BOCC: Seal Chipper Needed, Useful Public Service Contract

BOCC: Seal Chipper Needed,
Useful Public Service Contract,
Road Maintenance Request

by George Gramlich,
News and Commentary
The July 9, 2025/  Custer County Board of County Commissioners regular weekly meeting was held at the All Aboard Westcliffe meeting room and started at 9 a.m. All three County Commissioners were present: Chair Bill Canda and members Lucas Epp and Paul Vogelsong.
In Commissioner Items Epp had a finance briefing with the department heads. This meeting will be quarterly going forward. He also attended several agricultural meetings re the potential grant for a dedicated ag market. Epp stated that he had talked to our tourism people and lodging across the state is down. (Hence our Lodging Tax revenue is lower.) Canda opined about whether the County should raise its Lodging Tax.
First up in New Business was Wet Mountain Fire District’s request for a setback variance for a new fuel tank they want to put in. This went on for a bit on exactly how to do it procedurally. Eventually it was decided that they needed a survey done to confirm the property lines and they can go forward and ask for a variance via Planning & Zoning.
Next up was the Rotary Club with a request for an alcohol sales permit for their upcoming soiree Rocking the Ranch Weekend at the Beckwith Ranch, Saturday, August 2nd. This was ok’d.
Bob Smith, our Human Resources Director was the next supplicant concerning a potential “ Useful Public Services Contract”, the County’s program that monitors the public service sentences given by our courts. The current 11th Judicial District Clerk Justine Wilson currently handles that as a part time job being paid $9k a year by the County. She is retiring so the County needs a replacement. It turns out the County only receives around $2k from the people fulfilling these public service sentences. It was brought up that all the surrounding counties use a company called “Intervention” to do this on a per county contract basis. Bob has been in contact with these people and will be meeting them the next day to get pricing, etc.
Road & Bridge’s request concerning getting a used road chip sealer was next. They had sold their old one to a local contractor and now want to buy it back and get it refurbished by a company in Idaho. It will cost about $15k to buy it back and around $40k to $45k to have it rebuilt.
(A new machine costs over $1 million.) The Commissioners asked R&B to get firm numbers from the rebuild company.

Terry Skaggs, a resident of the Mountain Springs Country Estate subdivision off of Oak Creek Grade was next requesting the County assume maintenance of their two roads which total about 2.2 miles. Terry had the subdivision map which showed that the subdivision had deeded those roads to the County when it was originally set up. The County has never maintained the roads. After a big discussion, it was decided that Terry would review the road with Road & Bridge and then the County could make a decision.
In Additional Items, Epp said the County is maintaining roads it shouldn’t be and that has to be reviewed.
And that was that.

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Obituary: Jerry Marie Strebig

Jerry Marie Strebig, a beloved mother, grandmother, friend, and
faithful follower of Jesus Christ, passed away peacefully on June 15, 2025, at the age of 70 in Pueblo, Colorado. Her life was a radiant testament to compassion, strength, and grace—a rich legacy woven through the lives she touched and the love she gave freely.
Born on April 5, 1955, Jerry Marie was a proud Colorado native who lived a life rooted in faith, community, and quiet dedication. She graduated from Falcon High School on May 23, 1973, and later earned an Associate of Arts degree from Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado in 1975.
In 1999, Jerry Marie made her home in Westcliffe, Colorado, where she remained until her passing. There, she built her home with her own two hands and embraced a life of simplicity, independence, and creativity. It was a place filled with treasures—items she carefully kept with purpose and plans in mind. Her creativity flourished within those walls, expressed through mirror etching, photography, and the countless books she read that fueled both her imagination and her ever-growing wisdom. Her home and creations were a reflection of her spirit: resourceful, warm, and always ready for whatever might come next.
Jerry Marie’s greatest accomplishments were not measured in status or wealth, but in the people she loved. She spent much of her time driving others—especially the Amish community she cherished—building trust, friendship, and loyalty with every mile. Her work was more than transportation; it was ministry, service, and connection.
She enjoyed spending time at garage sales, collecting unique finds, and working with her hands. She loved utilizing old or discarded items, always seeing beauty and usefulness where others might not. These pastimes reflected her appreciation for history, purpose, and renewal.
Those who knew her described her as gracious, patient, loyal, and fiercely compassionate. She was generous, kind, thankful, and loving. She had a fighting spirit—stubborn, hardy, and deeply knowledgeable—with a twinkle in her eye and a heart full of care. She was a firecracker in all the best ways, and her warmth was matched only by her strength. She often said she was “blessed”—and she truly was, as were all of us who knew and loved her.
Above all, Jerry Marie loved God with every fiber of her being. Her favorite verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), wasn’t just scripture she knew—it was the foundation she lived upon. To her final breath, she praised His name. Her faith shaped every part of her life and now carries her into eternal peace.
Jerry Marie is survived by her loving daughters, Jocelyn Renee Kibler and Suzanne Marie Moreno ; her grandchildren, Jacob Lane Strebig, Shalisha Marie Moreno, Sasha Mae Moreno, Anjelina Marie Strebig , and Celina Abigail Moreno; her mother, Nancy Marie Manley (Scott); and her siblings, Sharon Mae Baxter and Jerry Lee Manley Jr. She is preceded in death by her father, Jerry Lee Manley.
She will be remembered for her strong will, her unwavering faith, her joyful creativity, her dedication to the people she cared for, and the simple joys she found in everyday life.
The family welcomes all who knew and loved her to come celebrate her life and the countless ways she touched the hearts of others. A memorial service will be held in her honor on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 3 p.m. Join us at the Roundwood Pavilion in Hermit Park in Westcliffe, Colorado.

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Obituary: Karen M Madden

 

Karen M Madden, age 81, passed into heaven on May 26, 2025. Karen was born in Indianapolis, IN, on May 8, 1944, to Frederick and Helen Krintz. Her brother Michael, sister Cindy, and parents have preceded her in death.
The remaining family members are her two sons, William Miller of Miami, FL, and Christopher Miller of Columbus, OH. Karen’s husband, Guy Madden, resides in Westcliffe, CO, where their dream of living in the mountains became a reality. There love for each other continued to flourish.
Karen graduated from Ohio State College High School in 1962. She was very active in music and theatre and attained a dance scholarship to Monticello College in Godfrey, IL. She graduated with a certificate in Arts in 1964. She then married William Miller and gave birth to William Jr. and Christopher. They moved to New York City where Karen became a model for a clothing company while her husband studied finance. The couple later divorced, and Karen moved to Colorado where she obtained her LPN license followed by her RN in 1981.
Karen loved to travel. She visited many countries in Europe, traveled to Egypt and on to Africa. She and several nurses represented the United States while visiting different countries, learning about nursing techniques and local customs concerning patient care. She viewed her nursing career as her vocation because she loved to take care of those who were hurting.
Karen and Guy met at a Christmas Party in 1997. They married on September 15 in Denver, just four days after the 9/11/2001 attack on the Twin Towers in NYC. The couple moved to Westcliffe in 2003.
Karen retired from nursing in 2008. Guy retired in January of 2024 after seventeen years of service as a school bus driver
for Custer County School District.
Karen’s smile would light up a room. Her laughter was contagious. She was warm-hearted and full of joy. She loved a good joke. She embraced life through ups and downs with an attitude of gratitude. Her favorite joy was being baptized into the Christian faith. Those of us who remain here miss her dearly.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

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High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival, July 10-13

High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival, July 10-13, 2025, Is Here!

Press Release
The High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival: Great Music, Great Place, Great Cause! Music will ring out across the Wet Mountain Valley at the 22nd annual High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival in July in the heart of the Rockies. Come enjoy stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the youth music program, the camaraderie of on-site camping and pickin’ in addition to a full roster of exciting bluegrass performers. Festival dates are Thursday through Sunday, July 10 – 13, 2025, at The Bluff Park in Westcliffe, Colorado.
The 2025 line-up features our festival host, the always entertaining Dry Branch Fire Squad led by the valley’s own Ron Thomason. We are pleased to have Rhonda Vincent and the Rage as our featured act this year! Other acts scheduled to appear are Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, Missy Raines and Allegheny, Becky Buller Band, Mike Compton and Joe Newberry, Ismay, Fog Holler, The Baker Family, My Brother’s Keeper, Dayton, Heidi Clare and Ron Thomason and the High Mountain Hayseeds. Many of these performers will also conduct workshops throughout the weekend which will afford festival-goers the opportunity to experience the performers in a more intimate setting. Dancers are welcome Friday and Saturday nights at the Sibbald-Brown stage, formerly the workshop stage, for a dance hosted by the Eagle Peaks Dance Band with square dance caller Hal Barnes on Saturday night. And don’t forget the always popular High Mountain Hay Seeds children’s program – bring the kids and their instruments!
High Mountain Hay Fever is also the best deal in bluegrass. Four-Day Passes are $130 at the gate. Single day ticket prices are $25 for Thursday evening, $60 for Friday, $60 for Saturday, and $40 for Sunday. Students 13-18 with ID are $10 and children 12 and under are free. Tickets are on sale on our website: www.highmountainhayfever.org and at the gate during the festival. On Thursday of the festival, tickets will be available at the gate at 1:00 with gates opening at 3:30 and music beginning at 5:00.
Dry camping and RV parking are available adjacent to the performance grounds and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. A reminder to local folks that South Adams Blvd will be closed between Main St and Rosita Ave. during the festival.
The festival is a 501(c)3 nonprofit formed to enhance the Wet Mountain Valley as a quality event destination that benefits the entire community. The festival has raised over $900,000 for Wet Mountain Valley charitable organizations over the years of its existence, with a strong focus on children’s health. The High Mountain Hay Fever Festival Association is run by a great group of volunteers who work year-round to make the event happen. We were honored that the festival was nominated in 2024 for “Event of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association. The festival remains an intimate event, avoiding the sprawl and congestion of large festivals while offering nationally recognized bluegrass talent, remaining true to its motto: “Small Scale, Big Time”.
For more information contact us at www.highmountainhayfever.org.

2025, BOCC, Uncategorized

June 25 BOCC: County Phone System to be Replaced

BOCC: County Phone System
to be Replaced, New Recording Fee Schedule, Little Lots to Be Sold

by George Gramlich,
News and Commentary
The June 25, 2025 Custer County Board of County Commissioners regular meeting started at 9 a.m. at the All Aboard Westcliffe meeting room. All three Commissioners were present: Chair Bill Canda and members Lucas Epp and Paul Vogelsong.
In Commissioner Items, Lucas said he was looking over responses to RFP on IT Services. He wants a workshop on it. Canda has been working the Fremont VSO and Custer County’s VSO to coordinate services and will be having a meeting soon. He is also arranging to have Upper Ark Water Conservation give a presentation here on their plans.
In New Business Accounts Payable was first. The total two week amount of $125k was ok’d.
Next up was the VSO report. Canda reviewed the report. It was approved.
The next topic was the Rusk Conservation Easement Letter of Support. This concerns the land around the old Beckwith ranch which the owners want to conserve. The letter just supports the effort. It was approved.
Next was a request for proposals for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Vernon Roth, Finance Director the county needs to consolidate all of our phone systems into a “cohesive ball” which would save the county several thousand dollars a month. This would also enable different departments to forward calls to other departments. Vernon noted that the new VoIP system would “ customizable “.Our current set up (with Century Link) is costing $5k to 7k per month. In terms of reliability, the new system would depend on internet connectivity.
County Clerk and Recorder, Kelley Camper, was up next: She said the new Recording Fee Schedule is starting in July. She needed the Commissioners to approve Resolution 25-31 to approve adopting the fees. The new flat fee for all recordings is $43.
Four Golden Arrow Valley subdivision lots the county owns was the next subject. (These are off of Oak Creek Grade just after the pavement ends. This area was originally intended to be an RV park and was cut up into tiny 50 x 100 lots.) A citizen wants to buy the four that the county owns. After a discussion, it was decided to put them out for bid at $2k a lot.
The last item was the West Custer County Library District’s request to approve a new Trustee member: Laurie Yarger. This was approved.

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Independence Day Weekend events

July 03 -26, Sangres Art Guild ~ “Shadows and Light” Art Show, July 5th Reception 1- 4 p.m. 3rd Street Gallery, 59000 N. Hwy 69

July 4 @ 7 – 10 a.m. $
AAW Pancake Breakfast
All Aboard Westcliffe Depot
102 Main St., Westcliffe

July 4 & 5 @ 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
AAW Flea Market, Craft Fair and Yard Sale,
110 Rosita Ave., Westcliffe

July 4 @ 10 – 11 a.m.
Independence Day Parade on Westcliffe & Silver Cliff, Main Streets Sponsored by the American Legion Post 170. To participate
sign up the morning of the event.
Show up early! (set up west of Conoco off Hermit Lane with the American Legion folks. $20 entry

July 4 @ 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Custer County CattleWomen 4th of July Burger Bash @Salty Pine Pavilion

July 4 @ 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. FREE
Beckwith Ranch July 4th Festivities

Veterans Giving Thanks- 4th of july Celebration for all
A FREE community event with: GAMES: Inflatable obstacle course, inflatable castle/slide, dunk tank, corn hole, volleyball, kickball and water play. MUSIC: Local Rod Matcham and a few others FOOD: Dwags Dawgs, Snow Cones, Taco Truck and a Beer Truck (To Purchase from Local Vendors)   NOT VERIFIED
Memorial Park, 305 Hermit, Westcliffe

July 4 after dusk
Fireworks Display by “The Mortar Men” Location (from the Silver Cliff Water Towers)

Saturday, July 5, . FREE
11 a.m. to Noon Sun observance & Evening Star Party
8:45 – 11:45 p.m on the Bluff in Westcliffe@ Smokey Jack Observatory.

2025, Uncategorized

15 Fun Facts About the Fourth of July

15 Fun Facts About the Fourth of July
by Tim Brunicardi,
Hocking College, reprinted

1. We Didn’t Actually
Declare Independence
on the 4th of July
One of the greatest misconceptions of the 4th of July lies in the name and date. It is widely believed that America declared their independence from Britain on July 4,
1776. However, the official vote actually took place two days before and the “Declaration” was published in papers on July 4th.
2. The Designer of the 50-Star Flag Lived in Lancaster, Ohio
In 1958, a history teacher assigned a class assignment to redesign the national flag as both Alaska and Hawaii neared statehood.
Robert G. Heft, who was 16 at the time, designed a new flag using the old 48-star flag and $2.87 worth of blue cloth and white
iron-on material. His design earned him a B-minus to which he challenged by sending it to Washington D.C. to be considered by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
According to his obituary, Heft was one of thousands to submit a flag design but he was the only person who actually stitched together a flag and shipped it to D.C.
Once the flag was selected, Heft’s grade was rightfully changed to an A. His design became the official flag in 1960.
3. Americans Will Enjoy
150 Million Hot Dogs During the 4th
According to the National Sausage and Hot Dog Council (NHDSC), Americans are expected to eat 150 million hot dogs over the July 4th holiday. This is part of an estimated 7 billion that are expected to be eaten during the summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
4. Only Two Men Signed the Declaration of Independence
on July 4, 1776
Charles Thompson and the infamous John Hancock were the only two men who actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The other 54 delegates signed over the course of the next month.
5. There is Something Written on the Back of the Declaration of Independence
… and no, it isn’t a treasure map written in invisible ink.
According to the History Channel, a simple message is written upside-down across the bottom
of the signed document that
reads, “Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776.”
According to the same article, no one knows who wrote this or when, but it was believed to have been added as a label during the years of the Revolutionary War when parchment was frequently rolled up for transport.
6. One Signed Later Recanted the Declaration
of Independence
Richard Stockton, a lawyer from New Jersey, became the only signer of the Declaration of Independence to recant his support of the revolution after being captured by the British in November 1776 and thrown in jail. After years of abusive treatment, and his recanting of loyalties, Stockton was released to find all of his property destroyed or stolen by the British. His library, one of the finest in the colonies, was burned to the ground.
7. The Average Age of The Signers Was 45 Years
Of the 56 signers, the youngest signers, Thomas Lynch Jr. and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, were only 26. However, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania was the oldest signer at 70 years old.
8. The Declaration of Independence Was Written on a Laptop
… Okay, not a modern laptop, but still. Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on a writing desk that could fit over one’s lap. This device was referred to at the time as a “laptop.”
9. Men Love Fireworks… $1 Billion
According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, Americans spend more than $1 billion on fireworks each year. Out of this, only 10% of firework displays are set off professionally, which probably accounts for the estimated 12,900 firework-related emergency room visits across the country.
According to Fortune Magazine, of those injuries occurring between June and July, almost 70% were experienced by men.
10. Bottoms Up With 2x the Rum
On the 2nd anniversary of Independence Day in 1778, American troops were fighting the American Revolutionary War. During this time, George Washington ordered a double ration of rum for American soldiers to celebrate the holiday with.
11. Fireworks = An American Tradition Dating Back to 1777
Fireworks date back as a tradition of Independence Day as early as the first anniversary in 1777.
John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife, Abigail, that he wanted Independence Day to be celebrated with pomp, parade, shows, and “Illuminations.” This original letter was written when Adams presumed that Independence Day would be celebrated on July 2nd.
12. A Much Smaller Start
Although an official national census was not completed until 1790, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there were only about 2.5 million people living in America in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed.
As of 2017, it has grown to become home to 325.7 million people.
13. Wearing Old Glory Violates The U.S. Flag Code
How many of you own a flag t-shirt, beach towel, shorts, headband, or any other item that is representative of the U.S. flag? Turns out that you’re in violation of the U.S. Flag Code.
The U.S. Flag Code states that you are in violation if you sell or display any “article of merchandise . . . upon which shall have been printed, painted, attached, or otherwise placed a representation of [the flag… in order to] advertise, call attention to, decorate, mark, or distinguish the article or substance on which so placed.”
That being said, in this instance, the Flag Code is not enforced or even enforceable, so don’t worry – you won’t get arrested by the Flag Police.
14. Bizarre 50th Anniversary
Thomas Jefferson, 82, and John Adams, 90, both died on July 4, 1826 within five hours of each other on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
15. A Little Late to the Parade
July 4th was not deemed a federal holiday until 1870, nearly 100 years after the nation was founded.

Please see https://blog.hocking.edu/15-fun-facts-about-the-fourth-of-july