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SAFE AND SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS PLANNED FOR 2019

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            “We have a beautiful new jetty this year. It’s an enhanced area for a safer shoot!” said Storm Lake Star Spangled Spectacular Fireworks Chair Orren Knoffloch of the long-awaited rebuilt Chautauqua Park jetty, site of the 2019 Star Spangled Spectacular Fourth of July fireworks shoot.

            The pyrotechnics expert said the Storm Lake Independence Day celebration culmination fireworks display will be as spectacular as ever.

            “It will be quite a show. There are 467 shots in the main display, not counting the grand finale – 653 shots total. It’s going to be fantastic and I’m really looking forward to it.”

            Knoffloch said the goal is to have a show of 20 total minutes of spectacular fireworks. The technology now is offering even brighter colors than ever before.

            “They keep making inroads with that and with special shells,” he explained, noting spectators should look for red hearts, lots of red white and blue fireworks, a small purple cross, brighter and louder flashbangs, flowering crowns, red strobe shells, brocade rings and more.

            “There’s also boxes we’ll shoot that go up that give us a little time to regroup between shoots.”

            Knoffloch annually has a specialty firework just for his wife, Celia – the smiley face! He said he has three smiley face shots for 2019 for Celia and the local audience.

The finale will be mostly red, white and blue fireworks and loud salutes to celebrate Independence Day in spectacular style.

“It will be a nice looking finale,” Knoffloch concluded. “It should last about 3 minutes.”

Always the optimist, he is predicting perfect weather for July 3 and 4. The fireworks chair does suggest that spectators bring insect repellant, but not to bring their own fireworks.

“Just sit back, relax and enjoy.”
            He credits his dedicated, trained and hard-working crew for the popular, safe and successful fireworks display year after year. Knoffloch said the least experienced member has 16 years of pyrotechnics shooting under his belt.

“I really want to thank the people of Storm Lake and the Star Spangled Spectacular committee for supporting the fireworks and this great event,” the fireworks chair said of the local Fourth of July event.

The fireworks and all Star Spangled Spectacular entertainment is family friendly and free of charge for the Spectacular. Entertainment is funded through private donations. “Coming Home” is the theme of the 2019 July 3 and 4 Independence Day celebration.

Information and updates regarding the 2019 celebration are available on the Spectacular’s new webpage, www.starspangledspectacular.net, the Spectacular’s Facebook page at Star Spangled Spectacular or Twitter @SLSSSpectacular.

For real time alerts, text SPECTACULAR to 31996 for time and location information for Star Spangled Spectacular activities (note this is a new code).

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