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Business booming for fireworks stands; user safety encouraged
SIKESTON -- The time of year surrounding the Fourth of July usually means picnics, barbecues and, of course, fireworks.
This year Sikeston residents will have plenty of fireworks to choose from to light up the skies.
"We have got a tremendous amount of new items," said Louis Mays, co-owner of Mays Brothers Fireworks. They own two stands in Miner and have almost doubled their shelving space over the past year.
The stands have something for everyone, Mays said. Some of his top recommendations for buyers are artillery shells.
"We have one of the largest assortments of artillery shells that we've every had, along with the 500-gram supercakes," Mays said. There is a large variety of them, with features such as crackling, whistling and exploding into color.
For the children, there are smoke devices and novelty items such as tanks, race cars and motorcycles that whistle, to name a few. "There's just a lot of neat stuff for kids," Mays said.
Although there are some fireworks marketed for children, they still need adult supervision, Mays said. "Fireworks are safe, as long as they are handled properly," he said.
That's a point the Sikeston Department of Public Safety wants to make, too. In a Wednesday news release from DPS, citizens were urged to obey area laws, plus follow manufacturers' recommendations when dealing with fireworks. It advised keeping a first aid kit on hand, being aware of dry vegetation, and to never shoot fireworks at a person or from a moving vehicle.
According to Sikeston city ordinance, it is illegal to shoot fireworks within the city limits. However, the display at the Complex on the Fourth is approved. DPS will strictly enforce the ordinance and ticket anyone breaking the rules and confiscate and destroy those fireworks.
But the display at the complex, sponsored by the Elks Club, promises to be a sight to see.
"It should be a pretty good show this year" said Gary Howard, a member of the fireworks committee.
"We've got some rather large shells that you don't see in the marketplace to buy," said Philip Chartrau, also on the committee. Over the course of the show, between 12 and 16 large shells will be shot.
Brian Wisdom, owner of Cosmic Inc. in Poplar Bluff, the contractor for the show, also said this year's show will be diverse. "There's about a billion different effects in fireworks," he said. Some make pictures in the sky, rings, palm trees and stars, and even a Mickey Mouse face, he said.
The show is contracted out, and costs about $10,000. Donations are still needed, Howard said, and can be sent to P.O. Box 931, Sikeston, MO, 63801.
The Sikeston Department of public safety alerted citizens to a voluntary safety recall by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on two fireworks in a Wednesday news release.
"March or Die Mine/Shell Firework Device" and "300 Shot Saturn Missile Battery Firework" have been recalled. These could be hazardous and cause injury due to manufacturing or design flaws." Consumers should immediately stop using these products and contact the manufacturer for a replacement product at 1-800-766-1277," the release said.