Page 24 - Flathead Beacon // 7.2.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM
24 FOURTH OF JULY GUIDE
Business Booms at Fireworks Stands
For 10 days each summer, fireworks are the hot item on the open market in Montana By DILLON TABISH of the Beacon
What better way to celebrate In- dependence Day than “Battle Cry.” Or “USA Conqueror.” Or “Thunderstruck.”
Packaged in radiant boxes with loud lettering, each boasts the same explo- sive firepower — 500 grams, the most legally allowed in the state — with large canisters billowing dozens of explosive firework shells into the sky in a colorful blaze.
Fireworks are inextricably tied to the Fourth of July, emblematic of na- tional pride and the ultimate symbols of celebration.
Montana is among the 44 states that still allow most consumer fireworks, al- though the explosives are only allowed in certain areas, such as this county. (See rules on page 29).
Each summer, for the 10 days sur- rounding July 4, it’s not hard finding an upstart shop selling colorful explosives.
Within one mile of Kalispell’s city limits on the east side of U.S. Highway 2 in Evergreen, nine fireworks stands have emerged in the last week. All across the valley, mostly outside city limits, doz- ens more have popped up offering a wide polychromatic arsenal to choose from.
“We’ve got everything; all the fire- works you could want,” says Roman Hopper, 27, the store manager of the Beehive fireworks stand in Evergreen.
Though he seems like an experi- enced veteran, Hopper, a Kalispell na- tive, is in his first stint hawking fire- works. The owners of Beehive, a Mon- tana-based fireworks company, gave Hopper his own stand and nearly $20,000 worth of fireworks. Like other fireworks vendors, he had 10 days to sell what he could in the state’s legally allot- ted timeframe — June 25 through June 5 at midnight. Fireworks can also be sold Dec. 29 through Dec. 31 for New Year’s.
The rainy weather in late June
Roman Hopper sells fireworks at Beehive Fireworks in Evergreen, one of nine stands along U.S. Highway 2 in the area. JUSTIN FRANZ | FLATHEAD BEACON
slowed down business a bit, but Hopper still saw a few big buys. One individual bought $860 worth of fireworks in one purchase, according to Hopper.
“I’ve heard of people dropping over $1,000,” he said.
It’s not hard to imagine.
Fireworks range in price greatly, starting with sparklers at 40 cents apiece to the popular “M-85 Tanks” that cost a few bucks each. Then there are the heavy duty high-powered explosives, such as “Jumping Skier,” “Jester’s Revenge,”
“Brink of Disaster,” “Goliath” and “Zeus.” Those can run upwards of $200 each. There are also the assorted packag- es for children and adults that come with a garden variety, valued at $100.
Just down the street, Nikki Fox, 28, has been busy selling the celebratory items to families anxious for the sea- sonal explosions. Fox has operated one of the four locally owned Black Widow fireworks stands for three years, and it’s become an annual highlight to re-open in summer.
“I really like making people smile and helping the kids decide on stuff,” she said. “And the men who like the high- dollar stuff. It’s fun to help them decide which ones to buy.”
She has several repeat customers who treat firework shopping like an art. After all, there’s a method to the mad- ness when it comes to an explosive dis- play.
“There’s guys who really try to put together quite the show,” she said.
[email protected]
Fireworks, Parades and Runaway Dogs
By BEACON STAFF
Long after becoming man’s best
friend, dogs still haven’t learned to en- joy sudden, deafening explosions in the sky. Fireworks are not the only problem that pets face around the Fourth of July. The bewildering sounds and smells of parades can also lead pets to get over- excited, scared and to run away from their owners. Even when they stay close, dogs come across errant firecrackers and open beer bottles, which can be both tantalizing and dangerous.
Cindie Jobe, a volunteer at the Flat-
head County Animal Shelter, had her dog run away during a violent thun- derstorm. Although Millie had identi- fication tags and was well trained, she couldn’t be found. Only days later was Millie returned to her owner; she had bloodied paws from all her running and was severely dehydrated and exhausted.
If a volunteer at the animal shelter can lose her animal, so can you. And if thunderstorms are frightening, the smells, sounds and lights of the Fourth of July can be even more overwhelming for pets, and thus it is no surprise that the busiest day of the year for animal
shelters across the country is July 5th. Even if your dog is lucky enough to end up in a shelter instead of on the street, according to ASPCA, only 26 percent of dogs that enter shelters as strays are ever returned to their original owners and 31 percent of them are euthanized.
With all this in mind, the Flathead County Animal Shelter has some simple tips for protecting your pets over the Fourth of July celebrations:
1. Make sure all your pets have up-to- date identification tags or microchips. 2. In the days leading up to the holiday, walk your dog early in the evenings so
that it is not surprised by early revelers. 3. Keep your pets inside when you or your neighbors have fireworks and don’t take them along to neighborhood fire- works displays.
4. If your pet is particularly sensitive, keep them in a room with no windows and play soothing music or white noise. In extreme cases, you can talk to your veterinarian about using tranquilizers. 5. Lastly, if despite precautions, your pet does go missing, call the Flathead Ani- mal Shelter at 752-1310.