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Lake Springfield Park is one of the viewing areas for this weekend's implosion at James River Power Station.
Provided by Springfield-Greene County Park Board
Lake Springfield Park is one of the viewing areas for this weekend's implosion at James River Power Station.

Ahead of implosion, United Way raises nearly $10K

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A unique fundraiser yielded nearly $10,000 for United Way of the Ozarks ahead of an equally distinctive event this weekend.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, City Utilities of Springfield is scheduled to implode four exhaust stacks at the partially decommissioned James River Power Station, according to a news release. The winner of a United Way raffle campaign, called Blasting for the Better, will detonate the implosion.

The demolition project of flue-exhaust stacks is expected to be completed by early April. It involves the removal of external components of the power stations, with the building, substation and several other components to remain in place. The city of Springfield this month was selected for an $800,000 grant to redevelop the plant and surrounding area.

On CU's social media outlets this afternoon, the winner of the United Way raffle is slated to be announced, said Rachael Walsh, the nonprofit's vice president of resource development. T

Walsh said the fundraiser closed at the end of business Wednesday and raised $9,705, at $5 per ticket.

On Saturday, CU plans to livestream the implosion event to cut down on the number of attendees in person, according to the release.

"Carpooling is suggested and access to the property is done at your own risk," officials said in the release.

Springfield-Greene County Park Board spokesperson Jenny Fillmer Edwards said Lake Springfield Park is one area with prime views of the power plant. She said attendance figures have not been estimated.

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