Last-minute idea a hit for animal shelter
Virginia Macha already had her banners purchased on June 25, before her fireworks stand even had approval; “always an optimist” her husband, Larry Macha, said.
She had the idea two weeks prior to the deadline, in June, to sell fireworks and give all of the proceeds to the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility, or ACARF.
“It’s hard to find different avenues of revenue for ACARF,” Macha said. Her husband is president of the ACARF board. She contacted the owners of Jake’s Fireworks, the Mariettas, who are good friends. She found herself sitting in Jason Marietta’s office, pitching the idea to him for support.
“I hope you make a fortune for those dogs,” he said, after agreeing to be the distributor for their site. She sent off for their sale license from the state, and received approval – they had two days to prepare for their first day of sales.
“The learning curve is probably the sharpest curve I have ever been on,” Macha said.
Her husband donated the building, next to JumpStart Travel Center on U.S. 54. ACARF volunteers are donating the labor. Macha said the community response has been nothing short of astounding.
“It’s overwhelming, it’s just overwhelming,” she said. Their business has been increasing since they opened their doors on Monday.
People shopped as she sat at the register, two shopping carts worth $500 and $600 sat next to the table, pre-orders from different clients.
She said customers have even been bringing their pets in to do some shopping as well, to show their support.
“It’s hilarious,” she said.
Macha has had help from her daughter-in-law, Kelly Macha, and her sister, Sheila Semoncic, who worked for Jake’s for seven summers. They have set up the register, ordered fireworks and worked the marketing side of things. She said the city of Mulberry bought all of the fireworks for their 4th of July show as well.
They are learning the operations day-by-day, and Macha said things are only going to get easier. Maybe next year they will have a bit more advance notice; but for this year, it’s better late than never.
“If we do this next year, we’ve got all of the bugs worked out,” she said with a smile
Fireworks stand a family affair
Jerry Diltz has been selling fireworks for 32 years, but it has become much more than a business.
“It’s what you call ‘in our blood,’” Diltz said as he sat in a shady spot near his fireworks stand in Gas, next to his daughter Heather Wooten. It started very simply.
“I liked to shoot them, so I got into it,” he said. Diltz grew up in Allen County, before moving to Wichita and then on to Wyoming. He returns every year for a family reunion of sorts, to sell fireworks and see his family.
“It’s been my whole life,” Wooten said.
They both are federally certified to sell and shoot class-B explosives, or fireworks, professionally. Their family, including Diltz’s son, two son-in-laws and Wooten, coordinate the Gas fireworks show every year. The show is free. Profits from the fireworks stand fund the extravaganza.
“It’s our way of thanking the community for their support,” Diltz said.
The men are in charge of the aerial fireworks, while Wooten orchestrates the ground fireworks, or “cakes.” All of the lighting is done by hand, with fuses, they don’t use electronic ignition.
“It’s just too much fun to do it yourself,” Diltz said with a laugh.
But, their work is serious business.
A wheat field, yet to be harvested, may stop this year’s show – Diltz won’t shoot with dry wheat nearby. Also, if the winds reach over 15 mph, it will halt the shooting. During the show, if winds change or increase, he said they would need to make adjustments to the tubes on the fly.
“It can get real tricky,” he said.
The crew will begin preparing for their show on Thursday, and will begin launching fireworks at 9:45 p.m. All in all, they plan on firing $12,000 worth of fireworks in 15 to 30 minutes. But, the short performance is all worth it for the payoff.
Diltz said the holiday gives him a chance to travel from his home in Wyoming and spend some quality time with his children and grandchildren – shooting off fireworks, of course.
