Ishpeming 4th of July Committee looks for help

The Ishpeming 4th of July Committee is asking for help from area residents to plan the annual Independence Day festivities.

The core group of people that plan the city’s July 4th events has been diminishing in number in recent years.

The vice-president of the committee has been running the parade for 15 years, but he says this will be his final year doing it.

“It takes a good solid core of people that are willing and able to organize, having the time to do that,” Karl Lehmann said. “We put out feelers in many areas, and not a lot of people (are) jumping forward.”

The committee held a joint meeting this afternoon with the Downtown Development Authority, city staff and the Ishpeming Business Association to spread the word.

Lehman says the planning isn’t a full-time job and shouldn’t intimidate anyone, “but it does take some dedication, passion for the continuation for the 4th of July and just the desire to see that it keeps going,” he said.

The 4th of July Committee also needs volunteers each year to help run the parade, the picnic, the fireworks, the 5K run and other activities.