NEW NEAMES IN FIREWORKS PATRIOT, SCUDBLASTER COULD BOLSTER SALES

The Patriot Missile, the Stealth Rocket, Scudbuster Rockets, the Scudblaster.

These are familiar names from Operation Desert Storm, but they're new on the list of fireworks which are now available in the area.

"Several fireworks items have been named in honor of the operations in the Persian Gulf," said E. C. Younghouse of Younghouse Distribution Co., Inc., Interstate 55 and Highway 74. "We feel some of the new items will be big sellers between now and July 4."

The Younghouse firm, which sells fireworks retail and wholesale throughout a 100-mile area, said the list of fireworks is a lengthy one this year.

"There are more than 200 different items available," said Younghouse. "That represents about a 15 percent increase over the items of 1990."

Among other new names on the fireworks front are "Air Travel" rockets; "Extra-Large" bottle rockets; "World War II" rockets; Fire Ants, a spinner rocket; and Dancing Dolphins, a novelty fireworks item.

Younghouse is looking for a good fireworks season.

"The weather is all-important for fireworks," he said. "For a couple of years now, county and city officials have discouraged the use of fireworks because of extreme drought conditions in the area. Things weren't too bad last year, and the weather conditions are okay this year.

"We're expecting a big year," he said. "With all the new items, and the troops back from the Persian Gulf War, I think this will be a great fireworks year. You'll see a lot of people holding their own little fireworks display in their yards."

Fireworks stand operators agree.

"It's really too early to make any predictions at this point," said Scott Givens, an operator at Kinder's Fireworks, located in the Schnucks parking lot. "But we had a lot more people during the first day this year than we had in 1990. We sold a lot of firecrackers and bottle rockets Thursday."

Kinder's Fireworks can be found in several Missouri locations. The firm has five stands in Cape Girardeau, three in St. Louis, three in Poplar Bluff, and will have three in Jackson on July 1, the first day fireworks sales are permitted there.

Mark Cook and his son, Casey Cook, were still in the process of setting up the Kinder's stand on Morgan Oak.

"We've had customers here today," said Cook Thursday, "and most of our sales have been with bottle rockets and firecrackers.'

The Ogborns Gary and Barbara have two stands, both located on Morgan Oak Street.

"We had a good first day," said Barbara Ogborn. "Most of our early sales were bottle rockets and firecrackers. But we have a great selections of Roman candles, and this year, consumers will find them to be more colorful than ever."

Ogborn pointed to the wide variety of bottle rockets which are available this year.

"We have `whistler' bottle rockets, two-color bottle rockets and even tri-color bottle rockets," she said. "We're looking forward to a good season."

Mary Ann Hoffman said sales at the Hoffman Family Fireworks stand, along Independence in Town Plaza, also consisted primarily of bottle rockets and firecrackers the first day.

As many as eight locations opened fireworks sales Thursday, hoping to add a sparkle to the Cape Girardeau County economy. Vendors in Cape Girardeau started selling Thursday, and will be permitted to sell until 10 p.m. July 4.

At least four to six more vendors will open business at Jackson July 1, where the city permits fireworks sales July 1-7.

Missouri and county guidelines permits sales of fireworks from June 20 to July 10, and Dec. 10 to Jan. 5, but cities are permitted to establish their dates within the state guidelines.

There are usually about 2,000 fireworks retailers scattered throughout the state.

Firecracker sales have been permitted in Cape Girardeau only seven years. The city council approved the sale and discharge of firecrackers for the 1985 Fourth of July season.

Missouri is one of 29 states where Class C fireworks are permitted to be sold. That includes such items as sparklers, fountains, spinners, bottlerockets and firecrackers.

A total of 13 states ban all Class C fireworks, and nine states allow only sparklers and other novelties.

"That includes Illinois," said Younghouse. "Illinoisans are permitted to discharge only sparklers, smoke bombs, and a few other small novelty items."