Fireworks show among area's Labor Day activties

Another federal holiday is scheduled for Monday. This time it is Labor Day and government offices and many businesses will be closed. For many families it will be their last opportunity this year for summer weekend activities.

The holiday weekend used to mark the start of the Nebraska State Fair and the fall school term but not so anymore. Schools are starting in mid-August and the fair has been moved up. Labor Day weekend now marks the conclusion of the fair. The fair has also changed locations. It is now held in Grand Island instead of Lincoln.

While this newspaper’s Superior office will be open much of the day, services on Monday will be limited. Early submission of copy for the next issue will be appreciated.

The Lovewell State Park staff anticipates a good weekend but the number of park visitors will not be near what is accommodated on Memorial Day.

As is often the case, this is the end of the irrigation season and the lake has been stressed by a dry summer and strong demand for irrigation water. But it is still possible to launch boats from Cedar Point and lake visitors may explore and enjoy the vast expanses of lake bottom that is now exposed. Boaters are warned to be on the lookout for low water hazards.

The reservoir is lower this year when compared to last. On Monday it was considered to be 43.1 percent full. A year earlier it was at 59 percent of capacity.

The operators of the lake maintain three pools. The first pool is the inactive level. The lake reaches the inactive level when it declines to 1,571 feet above sea level.

The conservation pool ranges between 1.571 and 1,582.6 feet above sea level. The lake is considered full at 1,582.6 but that doesn’t mean it can’t hold more water. The lake is considered to be in flood stage when the level rises above 1,582.6. On Monday the lake level was 3.8 feet above the inactive stage. With the lake approaching the inactive level, the transfer of water from Harlan County Reservoir has been stepped up and was nearly equaling the outflow on Monday. Irrigation season is winding down and some farmers expect to begin harvesting non-irrigated crops by mid-September.

At dusk Saturday, the Lovewell Lake Association will present a fireworks show. The fireworks will be shot from a location near the Cedar Point Boat Ramp. If the weather prevents the show from being held as scheduled on Saturday, an attempt will be made to hold it at the same time Sunday.

The show is financed by donations.