When Clear Channel Radio dropped the Elver Park Fireworks due to a loss of funding, Mid-West Family Broadcasting, which is the last remaining privately owned radio group in Madison, saved the day. But they did not have a lot of time to make it happen.

"24 days," said organizer Bonnie Oleson. "We had 24 days notice."

Right away the new organizers began to assemble the sponsors, and they quickly found out that the community was behind them.

"We contacted a lot of the sponsors," said Oleson. "A lot of people contacted us and said we really wanted to help out with the fireworks."

The next step dealt with transferring all the paperwork and permits for the fireworks, food and amplification, and more, which belonged to other companies. They also needed insurance, and a large enough fire and police force to work. In most cases an event like this would take a year to plan. But, since Mid-West Family Broadcasting is used to putting on community events, they thought it was possible. But, the lack of time cost them sponsors which translates into a 20,000 dollar loss.

"You call it a loss, that's what our investment in doing this event would be," responded Tom Walker, who is the president and CEO of Mid-West Family Broadcasting. "I don't consider it a loss. The loss would have been the loss of the fireworks. "

Through all the stress and hassle of those 24 days with the permits, the insurance, the scheduling and all the money invested, there is one belief that kept them going.

Said Walker, "It wouldn't be the 4th of July in Madison without the west side fireworks."

Mid-West Family Broadcasting can not keep investing 20,000 every year for there fireworks so they are depending on the community help out in the future.

Just to give you an idea of how much fireworks cost, the fireworks themselves are 700 dollars a minute. So, for 30 minutes that 21,000 dollars. The police force costs about 50,000 and they have yet to add up the other costs.