Canton residents enjoyed their first annual town 4th of July Celebration last week with plenty of festivities, although a planned fireworks show at a private home was thwarted by police.

The town found out about the fireworks after reading Facebook posts that the show from resident Mark Parham’s yard could be seen from the football field starting around 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Once Police Chief Bryan Whitner got news of the fireworks stashed at Parham’s house, he said he was obligated to confiscate them.

Accompanied by the fire marshal and Canton Fire Department Chief Jimmy Campbell, Whitner approached Parham, who willingly gave up the fireworks, Whitner said.

It took a trailerload to haul off the “significant” number of fireworks, Whitner said. Parham told officers it was about $1,800 worth.

No ...