Red, White and BLAST!

By HEATHER PYLES, CJ Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal

June 21, 2008 06:58 pm

— With SomerBlast less than a week away, the Somerset-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and volunteers are working tirelessly to make the second year for the Independence Day celebration an unforgettable one.
Jack Keeney, director for the Chamber, said Saturday, June 28, will start off with a prayer breakfast at East Somerset Baptist Church at 9 a.m., and several bands are lined up to perform throughout the day starting at around 2 p.m.
Local bands Omega Plague, Live Fish and Brother Stone are slated to perform that afternoon, and gospel bands Dixie Melody Boys and the Dove Brothers will take the stage at around 5 p.m.
“We are just really looking forward to it,” Keeney said about the music and events.
At 7 p.m., country band Cowboy Crush will go on, and the headlining band Shenandoah will play sometime around 8:15 p.m. until around 9:45 p.m.
After that, Keeney said SomerBlast attendees should be prepared for a patriotic celebration that will tie the celebration together before the “spectacular fireworks show” begins at around 10:05 p.m.
Keeney said the Chamber was able to hire the same fireworks technician this year who put on the show last year.
Keeney said everyone involved with the event is excited to see it succeed in its second year. Last year’s SomerBlast saw around 20,000 people attend the event, and Keeney said they’re expecting just as many people at the celebration this coming Saturday.
“We are just so excited, and I know the time’s coming up,” he said. “It’s just great to watch everything come together. From setting up the stage to watching the fireworks roll in to seeing the crowd.”
Keeney said the celebration wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers’ help and without local businesses’ contributions to put the free event on.
“I just can’t say enough,” he said. “You just go on and on.”
Even though their has been support from the community, Keeney emphasized that the Chamber, which is sponsoring the event, still needs more donations to cover the cost of the celebration.
“I want to say thanks to the community,” he said. “But don’t forget us. It costs a lot of money to make this go on ... so support us and make a donation.”
Keeney said 19 vendors have signed up to sell their products to event attendees, and he said there’s more room if anyone is interested.
“We just need a good crowd,” he said.
Anyone interested in volunteering for SomerBlast or anyone interested in making donations can contact the Somerset-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce at 679-7323.


2008 SomerBlast corporate sponsors

Southern Belle Dairy - $10,000
Cumberland Lake Shell - $10,000
Hinkle Contracting - $10,000

Somerset-Pulaski County CVB - $5,000
City of Somerset - $5,000
Pulaski Co. Government - $5,000
South Ky. RECC - $5,000
Somerset Food Service - $5,000

Presidium Learning - $2,500
Coca Cola - $2,000
Citizens National Bank - $1,000
Blue Grass Cellular - $1,000
First and Farmers Bank - $1,000
Commonwealth Urology PSC - $1,000
Edy’s Ice Cream - $1,000
Kingsford Manufacturing - $1,000
Monticello Banking - $1,000
Somerset-Pulaski Co. Board of Realtors - $1,000

Branscum Construction - $500
Weddle Enterprises, Inc. - $500
The Adanta Group - $500
B.B. & T. - $400
State Farm Insurance - Tammy Cundiff - $250
State Farm Insurance - J.B. Pitman - $250
Key Associates - $250
Rollin Wiggington - $250
Marvin Kinch - $250
Greg and Kathy Epperson - $170
Allen and Patty Anderson - $100
Somerset Animal Hospital - $100
General Electric Glass Plant - $100
L & N Credit Union - $100

In-Kind Sponsors
Clear Channel Radio
Commonwealth Journal
Reach Magazine

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