Fireworks may be illegal in the Golden Triangle”s three hub cities, but business was still booming Saturday at local fireworks stands as the July 4 holiday approached.
Shops and stands in Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay counties – outside the city limits of Columbus, Starkville and West Point – were packed with customers who chose from hundreds of items on display, from bottle rockets and roman candles to firecrackers and smoke bombs.
“(Business) has been pretty good,” said Teresa Padgett, store manager of Orbitz Fireworks off Highway 45 North in Columbus, as dozens of excited customers took advantage of buy-one-get-one-free sales throughout the store. “It”s picked up yesterday and today.”
Artillery shells and a “96-shot cake” of fireworks were among the most popular items, Padgett noted.
“People really like that one,” she added, regarding the Fireworks Fiesta 96-shot package.
The fireworks shop, which has been located off Highway 45 North for about 21 years, opened June 16 in anticipation of the July 4 holiday and will be open through Monday.
Asked if Columbus” ordinance prohibiting the explosion of fireworks in city limits deterred customers from celebrating with fireworks, she laughed and shook her head.
“No; most people have somewhere they can go in the county or they live in the county,” she responded.
Use of fireworks in Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay counties are allowed, but ordinances in Columbus, Starkville and West point prohibit the sale, distribution, possession or use of fireworks within city limits. The ordinances prohibit any skyrockets, firecrackers, sparklers, torpedoes, roman candles or other explosive materials.
The Columbus ordinance, which notes “special permission may be granted by the chief of the police department and the chief of the fire department for an organized fireworks display on special occasions,” stipulates violators be fined between $25 and $100 and/or sentenced to up to 30 days in the city jail. According to the ordinance, each separate sale or use is a separate offense.
Fireworks sale businesses housed and operating in a permanent structure prior to Dec. 31, 1994, are exempted from the prohibitions.
“We”ll be out enforcing the ordinance,” said Columbus Police Department Chief Joseph St. John. “(The ordinance is for) just making sure people aren”t injured and things are done safely. I think most people think of it as harmless fun, but we don”t want people injured or doing it in a way that disrupts the neighborhood. It”s just really looking after safety in general.
“Usually, it”s been very limited for most people,” he added, noting he anticipates no problems from fireworks use and people stop the activity when asked by law enforcement. “They quit right away. I don”t think people think of it as dangerous. Most people think of it as harmless, but we can”t look at it that way. We have to look at the bigger picture.”
In Starkville and West Point, violators face misdemeanor charges, but police and fire officials typically don”t arrest people for possessing fireworks, Starkville Fire Department Chief Rodger Mann said.
“We”re not going to go around confiscating them from you if you”ve got them in your vehicle, but if you”re shooting them, we”ll probably warn you and tell you not to shoot anymore,” Mann said.
Starkville Fire Marshal Mark McCurdy encourages people who use fireworks this holiday weekend to exercise caution.
“The biggest thing is to just use common sense,” McCurdy said. “Obviously they”re dangerous, so you want to make sure if kids are using them an adult is present and is overseeing everything so they”re not doing anything that will be harmful to them.”
McCurdy also encourages people to read the instructions before using fireworks; never point or throw fireworks at another person; always have a bucket of water or hose available to extinguish any fireworks; always use fireworks outdoors; never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks; never carry fireworks in your pocket; and never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
The city of Starkville is hosting a fireworks display today at 9 p.m. at the city”s Sportsplex on Lynn Lane. Events begin at 5 p.m. in the Sportsplex multipurpose building, where patriotic banners will be dedicated.
At 6 p.m., inflatables will be available on the Sportsplex athletic fields for children free of charge. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., free hot dogs will be given out, along with free snow cones.
At 7:30 p.m., free ice cream will be available.
Music by local artist John Robert Arnold will begin at 8 p.m. and the fireworks will start at 9 p.m. The fireworks will last approximately 20 minutes. The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
The Columbus Air Force Base is not holding a fireworks display this year.
Dispatch Starkville Bureau reporter Tim Pratt contributed to this story.
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