The Lebanon Police Department has announced the traffic plans and street closures for July 4th festivities.
The Lebanon parade route will be cleared of parked vehicles after 7 a.m. Saturday for street cleaning and preparation. Vehicles left on the parade route after that time are subject to removal at owner’s expense.
The parade route will be closed to all vehicle traffic after 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Vehicles on the parade route after that time will be subject to impoundment.
Visitors to the parade are asked to refrain from blocking side streets when parking. Motorists should remember that fire trucks and ambulances are wider than passenger cars and require extra space to maneuver.
During the parade there will be no parking along Ulen Drive between North Outer Drive and Grant Street. While all southbound traffic will be diverted off Elizaville Road onto Grant Street, residents of Ulen Country Club will have access to enter and exit the area.
At certain intersections, such as Meridian and Camp streets, safety lines will be painted on the pavement. Spectators will be required to stay behind those lines during the parade.
During the parade, the Lebanon Street entrance to Memorial Park will be open for access to the park.
Community fireworks display
Saturday evening, police will be directing traffic after the 10 p.m. fireworks display at the Lebanon Middle School. Traffic will be routed north and south from the area of Lebanon High School/Middle School and motorists are asked to cooperate with officers by not attempting to drive against the designated flow of traffic.
Private fireworks
Most fireworks complaints result when someone is being discourteous and violating the law, Lebanon Police Department Public Information Officer Brent Wheat said.
Fireworks can’t be legally used on sidewalks or on streets, he said. Permission must be given by both the owner of property where fireworks are ignited, and of where they land.
Hours when fireworks are allowed are from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., except on July 4, Memorial Day, Labor Day and New Year’s Eve, when fireworks may be used until midnight.
“If people would simply observe those rules, we wouldn’t have a lot of the problems,” Wheat said.
Police will investigate if they see children playing with fireworks, he said. State law prohibits persons under 18 from using fireworks.
“If folks would just be courteous, they probably won’t have any problem from law enforcement.”
Closings
Lebanon city and Boone County offices will be closed Friday in observance of Independence Day. State and federal offices will also be closed.
The Lebanon Reporter will not publish a Saturday edition, and all of the weekend television grids, comics and puzzles will be in Friday’s paper.