By: Isabelle Puente

It’s that time of year again where folks are starting to buy their essentials to illuminate the sky on the Fourth of July.

One local business hopes to be the place you’ll go to for all things fireworks.

Rodney Hopper, a Bells native, was born on the Fourth of July and knew that it would be his destiny to open a fireworks store. Hopper opened Rod’s Fireworks World 10 years ago and is continuously expanding.

He owns and operates two locations – 14627 US Highway 79 at U.S. Highway 412 – and 8691 U.S. Highway 412 South.

This Fourth of July will bring even more business to Rod’s Fireworks World due to America’s 250th birthday celebration, Saturday.

What better way is there to celebrate independence than with a show from a 24 cannister shell Excalibur firework.

“This year is up a little bit from last year, any time the Fourth of July is on a weekend, it all comes the last three days,” Hopper said. “So you’ll sell 80 percent in three days, so those three days we’ll probably have 20 to 25 people helping us.”

While fireworks can fill your evening with lots of color and fun, they can also be very dangerous if not used properly. Hopper always sees to it that he ensures safe usage of fireworks when making sales.

“The most dangerous fireworks I don’t promote, so the rockets are the most dangerous because they go 200-300 feet and can tip,” Hopper said. “So in general we don’t promote them and we make sure we tell them every time which ones are the most dangerous, the rockets, big roman candles I don’t promote them a lot unless their parents are with them.”

In the city of Jackson, the use of fireworks is permitted from 11 a.m. -10 p.m., from June 30 to July 5.

On July 4, the permitted hours will be 11 a.m. until 12:30 a.m., July 5.

It is always best to ensure safety when lighting fireworks so that you can have a fun and safe time.

For more safety measure tips you can visit United States Consumer Products Safety Commission’s website.

(PHOTO: Rodney Hopper, Bells native)