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Sandy Springs holds first fireworks celebration

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City of Sandy Springs managed to pull off its first fireworks celebration Saturday night despite downpours.

The city decided to put on a show for its residents six months ago. It took four months of hard planning to pull the event together Saturday, but it almost didn't happen.

Like a city councilwoman told Channel 2's Liz Artz, there are some brave souls out there who weathered the storms.

Trisha Dickerson was one of those souls who hunkered down in plastic and an umbrella. She said she just wanted to see a Fourth of July celebration.

Two hours before the big show, the sky opened up and many spectators took refuge in parking decks.

City officials said firefighters were keeping a close eye on lightning and a command center was set up where the director of public safety was watching weather radar, predicting what time the show would go on.

It went on as scheduled, but with fewer people than anticipated. The city planned for 1500. But organizers estimate only a few hundred people showed up. For those people who did like Kaye Barwood, it was worth it. It was his Fourth of July as a US citizen, and he told Artz it was pretty cool.

The city said while it was a smaller crowd than they anticipated, they were pleased with the turnout considering the weather. They say they'll do it again next year.