By Carolyn Lee
The Imperial Republican
It sounds like the Fourth of July will be a good day for a water fight at the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department’s (IVFD) Helen Fanning Memorial Fun Day.
With entertainment for all, the Fun Day will feature water activities and more from 1 to 4 p.m., when the day is hottest, at the Wellington School football field.
Chairman Craig Loeffler said, “The weather is going to cooperate,” meaning no rain delays.
There will be a water fight for adults and children at 1 p.m.; a rope tug-of-war at 1 p.m. for those 12 or older in four-person teams; a smoke trailer simulating a burning house; a demonstration of the Jaws of Life at 2 p.m.; a rope rescue demonstration at 3 p.m., and, of course, a display of fire trucks, the city pumper with its deck gun and Imperial EMS ambulances.
The VFW will conduct a flag retirement ceremony starting about 1 p.m., at the south end of the field outside the fence. VFW members urge the public to bring old, worn out flags to be burned ceremoniously.
There will be water games for children such as the dunk tank and a kid’s play area.
Free hot dogs, water and watermelon will be available all afternoon.
T-shirts will also be given away during the afternoon.
The Fun Day is free and open to everyone.    
Night Sounds with Jason Kimble will provide music to party by during the afternoon.
Mud volleyball
The Imperial FFA is again sponsoring a Mud Volleyball Tournament, to be held in the northeast corner of the Wellington Street football field.
Registration begins at 12 noon, with games beginning at 1 p.m.
Teams must consist of four persons, two male and two female, ages junior high and up.
FFA Advisor Jason Speck said he hopes to have 16 teams, but more may play. It’s a single elimination tournament, he added.
The FFA members spread sand in the bottom of the mud pit last year, so Speck said shoes aren’t mandatory. The sand is to eliminate any possibility of injury to players.
The top three teams will receive Chamber Bucks.
Fireworks    
The annual IVFD fireworks display will begin at 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, the night before the Fun Day.
The fireworks will be set off at the Chase County Fairgrounds.
Local radio station KADL will broadcast the National Anthem.