FIREWORKS: THIS IS LAST YEAR FOR BOTTLE ROCKETS

A sometimes dangerous and annoying July 4 staple will have its last hurrah in Cape Girardeau this year.

The bottle rocket, a small, cylindrical tube of fireworks attached to a wooden stick that rises into the air and explodes, is banned after this year.

The Cape Girardeau City Council approved an ordinance this year that prohibits the sale or discharge of bottle rockets in the city after Dec. 31.

But bottle rockets, other rockets, Roman candles, firecrackers, sparklers, and fireworks with names like See You Later, Alligator, Rambo Kid, Whistling Buster and Boomman go on sale in Cape Girardeau and Jackson today.

"We start selling at 8 a.m.," said Christopher Casey, manager of the Hoffman Family Fireworks stand along Independence in Town Plaza. He pointed out, however, that they can't be fired until 10 a.m. today.

Local fireworks retailers were busy Monday raising their red-, white- and blue-striped tents to kick off the annual fireworks season.

Fireworks sales here and in Jackson may continue during the hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from through July 4. Fireworks may be discharged between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. through July 3, and from 10 a.m. to midnight July 4.

Seven retail licenses had been issued through noon Monday in Cape Girardeau with expectations of three to four more. Four retail licenses had been issued in Jackson.

Fireworks stands in Cape Girardeau County will be permitted from June 20 through July 20, but each city may have a local ordinance establishing different times. Such is the case with Scott City, which limit sales from June 25 to July 4.

More than 650 different fireworks are on the market this year, said Mary Ann Hoffman of Hoffman Family Fireworks. "We have at least 30 new fireworks this year," she said.

The Hoffman family has been involved in fireworks for more than 50 years. It all started when Elvis Hoffman started selling fireworks in Perryville. Rick and Mary Ann Hoffman have been involved with fireworks in Cape Girardeau for 17 years. Four years ago the Hoffmans purchased a fireworks wholesale business from Younghouse Distributing.

Other family names in the fireworks business here are Kinder and Ogborn. Kinder Fireworks has been in operation for more than 35 years and operates three fireworks stands in Cape Girardeau. Ogborn's Fireworks has three operations in Cape Girardeau.

As many as 15 fireworks operations can be found in the immediate Cape Girardeau and Jackson area.

In addition to licenses, state, city and county regulations require safety guidelines to be followed when selling fireworks. They require that fireworks stands operate beyond certain distances from open flames, smoking, flammable materials and businesses that sell gasoline.

Fireworks are sold in 40 states, but in almost half the states consumer fireworks are limited. No fireworks area available to the public in Illinois.

Nationally, about 83 percent of all serious fireworks injuries are from bottle rockets, according to a survey conducted for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the U.S. Eye Injury Registry.

Bottle rockets travel at a high rate of speed with uncontrolled flight patterns. Statistics show that 70 percent of bottle-rocket injuries are to bystanders. Bills have been introduced in a number of states to ban use of bottle rockets but few have passed.

Fireworks safety tips

Following are some fireworks safety recommendations of the National Safety Council:

* Read and follow instructions printed on the package before discharging any fireworks.

* Purchase fireworks from a reliable dealer.

* Don't purchase fireworks unless the name and address of the company are printed on the package.

* Don't try to relight fireworks that fail to discharge.

* Avoid fireworks that look like they have been wet and then dried.

* Avoid any explosive with a loose fuse.

* Don't stand directly over fireworks, especially projectiles, when igniting the fuse.

* Don't hold fireworks in your hands when igniting the wicks.

* Step away from fireworks quickly after igniting the fuse.

* Never shoot fireworks at someone or at stationary or moving objects.

* Stay clear of buildings and vehicles when discharging fireworks.

* Don't carry fireworks in your pocket.

* Always have water handy.

* Have an adult present.