EXCELSIOR SPRINGS– Excelsior Springs celebrated America’s 245th birthday with blasts of gunpowder and flashes of light. After dark Sunday, the annual fireworks display began from the upper reaches of Siloam Mountain Park. Clusters of viewers gathered at spots near the park where they could see the sky sparkle, including along Broadway downtown and near The Elms Hotel and Spa, which sponsored the event. The celebration ended with a barrage of explosions shortly before 10 p.m. Before and after the main display, residents staged their own fireworks displays. Places where they could buy their pyrotechnic supplies included two R Mac Fireworks stands – one in Wood Heights and one in Excelsior Springs. Owned by the McLaughlin family, the stands donate a portion of their proceeds to the Excelsior Springs School District, Christa McLaughlin said. In 2020, the contributions helped fill the backpacks of 150-plus students, she said. ...