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Every year the fireworks at Petrack Park over the Fourth of July weekend attract hundreds of visitors to Pahrump.

It's the one show nobody wants to miss, and it's an event locals proudly invite family and friends from out of town to share. The show is tonight at dusk.

The "ooo's and ah's" from the jam packed park, as well as from hundreds of people sitting in folding chairs by their vehicles along Highway 160, are a testament to long-time Pahrump resident, pyro-technician John O'Brien.

According to O'Brien, this year's show "will be a nice one, but it won't have a lot of the big guns we've used in all our past shows. We also won't have the pre-show flag procession normally put on by the Scouts."

Still, O'Brien choreographed the fireworks to music, and attendees can get the full effect by bringing a portable radio to listen to the simulcast on KNYE 95.1 FM.

According to O'Brien, the scaling back in the show is not due to generally poor economic times but because of town politics. He is also unemployed. "I cannot afford to do what I did in the past," he said. "I have to deal with saving my farm."

He claims the contract the town board approved in March to schedule the fireworks with Zambelli Products was held up past the April 15 deadline. However, the correspondence between Town Manager Bill Kohbargar and Zambelli Products Western Regional Manager Irving Perry, shows a timely flow of communications between the town and company.

A letter dated March 26 from Perry to Kohbarger references "our recent phone conversations." On April 14, the next scheduled town board meeting date, the matter was brought before the board and a contract in the amount of $25,000 was approved. Kohbarger said there was also a verbal agreement at that time.

This is the 20th year O'Brien's has produced the fireworks show for the town.

"This was going to be the biggest show ever to celebrate our anniversary with the town," said O'Brien. "It's also the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing, so we planned to bring in a big crane to drop a 16-foot model of the lunar lander, complete with astronauts, right in the park."

The grand finale of the show was to feature a 20-foot-long John Deere Tractor shooting flames.

"All that is going to remain in my warehouse now," said O'Brien.

Over the years, O'Brien said he has donated "tens of thousands of dollars in fireworks shows and equipment for the town." He donated the public address system for the rodeo as well as purchased essential equipment for the fire department.

Over the years, he was awarded for heroic deeds as well as recognized for his services to the town by previous town board members. Yet last October, O'Brien was terminated from Pahrump Valley Fire-Rescue Services. He believes he was treated unfairly by Fire Chief Scott Lewis as well as Kohbarger, who said the final decision to fire O'Brien was his.

"It's my job to make tough decisions," said Kohbarger. "Given the facts in the matter, I did what was in the best interest of the town." He added that personnel matters are confidential and details may not be discussed.

"I was unlawfully terminated for the fourth time," said O'Brien. He claims the actual reason behind his termination is so the town would not have to pay his "duty disability," as was stated in his contract.

O'Brien said Kohbarger and Lewis violated his constitutional rights as well as his safety. He has a list of ailments relating to his work as a firefighter, including diminished lung capacity.

"I got a slap in the face for putting 20 years of my life into this town. I want the people in this town to stand up and tell them enough is enough," said O'Brien. "This has to stop. I gave my life to this town and the fire department."

He is planning to bring suit against the town, which would include the fire department.

O'Brien has lived in Pahrump for 21 years. "I used to run cattle on my farm. At one time I had over 1,000 chickens. I used to feed the homeless over 100 eggs every week. I took fresh produce, pastries and bread to the senior center for them to distribute to the shut-ins. They liked to see me coming because I always brought cakes and cookies."

O'Brien is still bringing treats to Pahrump residents. Although the budget for tonight's firework show at Petrack Park is less than in previous years, O'Brien has put considerable time and planning into making it an enjoyable evening. He is also producing Saturday night's fireworks show at the Pahrump Nugget.