The City of Lawrence enjoyed a “safe and sane” Fourth of July weekend, with no fireworks-related injuries reported by Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Local police had received only three reports of people creating disturbances with fireworks and only two minor car accidents had occurred with no resulting injuries. An estimated crowd of 10,000 watched the annual fireworks display at Memorial Stadium, with additional people watching from the grassy slope beneath the Campanile.

The Kansas Turnpike handled 159,849 vehicles, driving a total of 8,400,000 miles, over the long holiday weekend with only eight minor accidents. On the previous year there had been 14 accidents and one fatality reported.

The Lawrence area was enjoying a recent 45-degree drop in temperature. The high on the previous Thursday had reached 100 degrees, dropping to a morning low of 55 three days later. Dry conditions had persisted for 16 days.