Wisconsin Pyrotechnic Arts Guild Club Newsletter website: www.wpag.us Issue Number 3 Volume 2 August OFFICERS ~ President ~ Barb Schneider E 367 County Rd. J Wausau, WI 54403 715-845-6784 barb6784@aol.com ~ Vice-President ~ Mark Merten 4761 Hwy 144, Slinger WI 53086 262-644-0568 multi-break1@charter.net ~ Sec./Treasurer ~Katherine Anderson 5904 10th Ave. South Minneapolis, MN 55417 612-229-2355 katherine605@gmail.com ~ Treasurer ~ Dick Horneck W11120 South Shore Dr. Deerbrook, WI 54424 715-275-4359 cdhorndick@verizon.net ~ Directors ~ Steve Hubing W2255 Hwy 73 Granton, WI 54486 715-897-7024 steve@hubings.com Chuck Decker 2821 Bristol Mountain Trl Green Bay, WI 54313 920-639-9966 Chuck@UncleSamFireworks.com Al Everson N1872 Julius Dr. Greenville, WI 54942 920-216-2780 kantever@gmail.com President s Message To everyone who attended the PGI convention in La Porte, welcome back! The trade table was a great success and WPAG won the Club Trophy again, even I'm losing count, is it 12 or 13? We'll have as many results as we can by this weekend at the club picnic. We have a great day planned for Saturday. There's the mini girandola contest, mini rocket contest, last months comets finished up, lots of games and prizes, and gift bags for the kids. We are in for a special treat for our picnic dinner. Club member Walt Baker, a real life barbecue pit master is bringing his big rig and cooking up some pulled pork and pulled chicken for our meal. He competes on the barbecue circuit, and has placed second and third so far. He's setting up Friday afternoon, and starting the cooking for our evening potluck. Low and slow wins! After dinner we ll begin the contests, enjoy open shooting, and a mini-show of donated shells by some club members. I'm sure they would appreciate help cleaning up. In fact, we could all help by setting up and cleaning up something, be it before and after the meal, the shooting lines, the tents, the mini show and any other debris. Then, a nice campfire and we'll call it a great day. See you all Saturday! Barb Greg Zimmerman N609 Opperman Way Shawano, WI 54166 715-524-3312 gazimm@frontiernet.net
Mini Girandola Contest Rules for the August Shoot The two categories are: Stock - This is limited to eight commercial ½ outside diameter Class "C" drivers and a plastic ice cream bucket base. The completed device must weigh in at one pound or less. Modified - This is where you can get creative! You are limited to commercial Class "C" drivers, and it must weigh one pound or less. There s a lot of unique devices and excitement in this class. There can be some pretty wild ones, so don't sit in the front row if you know what's good for you! The launch sticks are 3/8 diameter, so make sure the hole on the girandola is a little larger so it doesn t get stuck and just spin on the stick. We want those things up in the air searching out the crowd! We ll have the manufacturing tent open until 3PM on the day of the picnic if you want to make or complete your entry on site. You can either purchase commercial Class C rockets near home, for drivers, or pick up the rockets in the class C vending area. If you don t know or remember how to make one, printouts with directions will be available at the picnic. So bring your scissors, punches, zip-ties etc. and join in the fun! Mini Rocket Contest Chris Szot also holds a mini whistle rocket contest at the August Shoot. Both competitions are exciting and fun to watch; better yet, be a participant and enjoy the competition.
There will be GAMES at the picnic, PRIZES too, come join the FUN. There will be games again this year at the annual picnic. Come join the fun as Sheila Vohs directs the games and hands out prizes to the winners. Jeannie Hubing will also provide gift bags for the children. Sheila did a great job at PGI this year collecting donations for the prize winners. Donations were generously provided by the following: Passfire The Movie Dominator Fireworks Your Agent in China Fireworks US KaBoom Enterprises Orchard Hill The Hot Sauce People Scentsy Hale Fireworks NFA The Glass House Oh no, no, no, we won t tell you what the prizes are, you will have to come and join the fun to be a winner. There are also some very special prizes that we will auction off to the highest bidder. Come join the fun.
Friday May 13 10:00 a.m. Manufacturing Open Wildlife Campground Saturday May 14 10:00 a.m. Manufacturing Open 2:00 p.m. Wheel Construction -- John Vargo 4:00 p.m. Club Meeting 5:30 p.m. Pot Luck -- Bring a dish to pass Dusk Open Shooting Wildlife Campground Friday June 10 10:00 a.m. Manufacturing Open (Manufacturing only -- shoot will be at Southworth Farm on Saturday) Wildlife Campground Saturday June 11 10:00 a.m. Restricted Manufacturing Open 1:00 p.m. Getting Legal -- Larry Huber 4:00 p.m. Club Meeting 5:30 p.m. Pot Luck -- Bring a dish to pass Dusk Open Shooting Southworth Farm E 20883 State Hwy. 52, Aniwa, WI Friday July 15 10:00 a.m. Manufacturing Open Marion Site W14002 Highway 45 Tigerton, WI Saturday July 16 10:00 a.m. Restricted Manufacturing Open 1:00 p.m. Jim Biersach-Comet seminar 4:00 p.m. Club Meeting 5:30 p.m. Pot Luck -- Bring a dish to pass Dusk Open Shooting Marion Site W14002 Highway 45 Tigerton, WI Friday August 26 10:00 a.m. Manufacturing Open Wildlife Campground Saturday August 27 10:00 a.m. Manufacturing Open 1:00 p.m. Paul Biersach Dragon s Breath 4:00 p.m. Club Meeting 5:30 p.m. Club Picnic 6:30 p.m. Mini-Girandola & Mini-Rocket Contests Dusk Open Shooting Wildlife Campground Friday September 23 10:00 a.m. Manufacturing Open Wildlife Campground Saturday September 24 10:00 a.m. Manufacturing Open 1:00 p.m. Let s make a Mascalata Steve Hubing 4:00 p.m. Club Meeting 5:30 p.m. Pot Luck -- Bring a dish to pass 6:30 p.m. One Fuse Contest Dusk Open Shooting Wildlife Campground Saturday October 15 Open Shooting -- Saturday Only (No Friday activities, no formal manufacturing, no pot luck, no tents setup, no club meeting. Just bring your stuff for a fun shoot) Wildlife Campground
WPAG Class C Competition Rules for September One Fuse Competition Rules PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGES The purpose of the Class C Display competition is not to demonstrate the depth of the competitor s bank account, nor to show how tightly they can pack material into a given area or how far they can stretch what should fit into the definition of Class C. Instead, these competitions are intended to allow the competitor to demonstrate creativity and artistry in crafting a well thought out display from materials legally available through consumer fireworks distributors. Definition Consumer Fireworks (historically known as Class C Common Fireworks). Only UN0336 or UN0431 labeled Class C fireworks may be used. Equipment Specifications 1. Any commercial Consumer Fireworks device or combination of devices meeting the definition above may be used in this level. Modifications of permitted devices may be made by the competitor as long as the device continues to meet the Consumer Fireworks definition above. 2. In any competition, reloading of any type of mortar is prohibited. 3. Commercially manufactured match, fuse and any timing fuses are allowed in all competitions. 4. There is no limit to the number of devices fired; however, you can only use one fuse to start your board or boards. 5. Descriptions of effects are not required. Class C One Fuse Competitions Level 1 The competitor s Class C items must be mounted on 1 board 4 X 2 or 8 square feet or less. You may use as many Class C items that will fit on the board and not hang over the edge. There is a five minute maximum time limit for each entry. Level 2 The competitor s Class C items must be mounted on 2 boards 4 X 2 or 16 square feet or less. You may use as many Class C items that will fit on the boards and not hang over the edge. All fireworks Materials MUST be contained within the square footage footprint specified for each category. Nothing hanging over the edge. Pretend you are setting up inside a box. Five minute time limit each entry. NEW RULE You MUST light your board with ONE FUSE. Each entry may only be lit once. Relighting of an entry is not allowed. Material that does not fire may be shot in Open Class C shooting. NO HOMEMADE FIREWORK DEVICES ALLOWED. The competition winners in 2015.
WPAG Member Business Directory Big Thunder Fireworks Michael Berlin Sr. & Jr. 7237 Hwy US 2 PO Box 142 Ashland, WI 54806 ARF Pyro & Professional Displays, LLC. Class C Retail Sales Class B and C Display Operators Mark & Jackie Arseneau, Owners N2654 Hwy 107 Merrill WI 54452 715-966-2793 arseneau.rocketfireworks@gmail.com www.arfpyrodisplays.com Blu Fireworks The small town with the big fireworks store. Class C Sales. Brent & LuAnn Moore 217 Main Street Barney ND 58008 701-439-0154 www.blufireworks.net info@blufireworks.net Fireworks Forever Importer, Wholesaler, Retailer 1.4g Fireworks Jason & Ann Wachter P.O. Box 100 Saint Croix Falls, WI 54024 715-483-1322 jason@fireworksforever.com www.fireworksforever.com Granite Falls Arts Inc. Supplier of pyrotechnic tools Rich & Claudia Wolter W1895 Fawn Ct. Montello WI 53949 (608) 297-9402 wolter@myfrontiermail.com www.wolterpyrotools.com Hobby Horse New England Paper Tubes and other Pyro supplies Jim & Paul Biersach 3259 Rising Sun Road Sun Prairie WI 53590 608-241-3491 www.hobbyhorse.com Decker's Uncle Sam Fireworks Class C retail sales Chuck & Deb Decker Green Bay WI 54313 (920) 662-1103 Chuck@UncleSamFireworks.com www.unclesamfireworks.com Fantasy Display Fireworks LLC Class B & C Display Operator Class C Sales Mike Rothenberger E14596 E Tower Road Ringle WI 54471 715-574-1956 fantasydisplayfireworks@gmail.com Fireworks Country Class C Fireworks sales Jerry & Tony Bamke W18862 St. Hwy. 29 Wittenberg WI 54499 715-253-2276 jrbamke@gmail.com
Thank you Al Everson Al Everson recently received a donation of 200 shells from Bartolotta Fireworks that were in need of repair. Al and a few other club members took some time and repaired all of the shells. They will give us a little show on Saturday night at the end of the evening. Thank you Al and everyone who helped for taking the time to do this and to share the shells with the club.
WPAG Member Business Directory Kastner Pyrotechnics Fireworks Wholesale & Imports LLC 1.3G (Class B) and 1.4G (Class C) Wholesaler & Importer Jessica Kastner & Bart Hake 3036 Snowcap Trail Madison, WI 53719 608-553-3377 jessica@kastnerfireworks.com www.kastnerfireworks.com Spielbauer Fireworks Co., Inc Importer & Distributor of 1.3g - 1.4g Fireworks Patrick Spielbauer 1976 Lane Road Green Bay WI 54311 920-336-0446 sales@sfireworks.com www.sfireworks.com Krueger Pyrotechnics & Fireworks Displays, LLC Direct Importer of 1.3G & 1.4G Fireworks Class B & C Wholesale Sales Display Operator Jim & Tara Krueger 2323 Clay Hollow Road Cuba City, WI 53807 608-732-4545 fireworks@lagrant.net www.kfireworks.com Platte River Fireworks Class C and HDPE mortars and racks Russ & Jody Koeller P.O. Box 617 Dickyille, WI 53808 563-542-3793 russkoeller@live.com www.platteriverfireworks.com Promen's Fireworks Class C sales Dan Promen & Marie Hodge N4577 Lost Arrow Court Fond du Lac WI 54937 (920) -263-0002 sales@promenfireworks.com www.promenfireworks.com Rolling Star Fireworks Supplier of fireworks chemicals and supplies Steve Hubing W2255 Hwy 73 Granton WI 54436 715-897-7024 steve@hubings.com www.hubings.com Skypainter Fireworks LLC Display Operator Tom Spranger 1030 Heartstrong Place Plover, WI 54467 715-340-8732 sbctom44@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/skypainterllc
THANK YOU Larry Huber and Doug Henderson for always providing awesome photos for the Short Fuse.
The Safety Corner Steve Hubing, WPAG Safety Director Our next shoot of the year is quickly approaching and it s time to once again to have some fun with fireworks. While we all love to watch the shells, rockets, and Class C fireworks do their thing in the night sky, we do have to remember that, while it s fun to light the fuse and watch the beauty that unfolds as they head skyward, fireworks are explosive devices and they don t always behave the way we want them to. To help keep us safe, here a few suggestions and reminders I would like you to know and think about. Safety personal must be present on any of the shoot lines before fireworks can be shot. Shooters and helpers must all wear safety glasses when on the shoot lines. Class B fireworks (shells and rockets) shooters must wear hard hats when on the shoot lines. You must be a current WPAG member to be on the shoot lines or in the fallout areas. This means that guests cannot be within a fallout area during open shooting times. All Class B devices not being electrically fired, must have fuse on them that gives the shooter a minimum of 6 seconds from the time the device is lit to the time it hits the quick match or rocket propellant. Visco fuse is preferred. Shooters on the B lines should keep themselves covered by the blast shields when a device is launched. Everyone should be aware of what s going on. It s easy to be talking and get distracted and not notice a shell or rocket heading your way. If you re sitting in a potential fallout area, consider wearing safety glasses and hard hats, even if you re only watching and not actively shooting fireworks If you re in a manufacturing area, you must always wear safety glasses.
Camping and Hotel Information Our shoot site is located at Wildlife Campground. The campground gives WPAG members a substantially reduced rate for camping onsite. All campsites in our area are $15.00 per night. They have electric and water. It comes in handy, even if you tent! We rent a porta potty for our shoots, so that is available during the weekend. There is a campground bar, and they have pizzas and beverages available. WPAG has a contracted rate at the Best Western Inn in Wittenberg. It is a good savings off their regular rate. Best Western Inn Wittenberg W17267 Red Oak Lane, Wittenberg, WI Telephone No. 715-253-3755 Intersection of HWY 29 and HWY 45 (HWY 29 exit 198) The hotel has a pool, serves continental breakfast, internet, restaurant and gas station next door, it is about 8 miles southeast of the shoot site. WPAG rate is $70.00+tax, standard room, single or double. MUST ask for Fireworks rate. Rates in June and July are $79.00. There is also a very small, basic motel in Birnamwood, about 2 miles from our site. It is Chet and Emils, telephone number 715-449-2226 or715-449-2297. The rate varies, but this winter a single was $45.00+tax per night. No amenities. There are many hotels in the Wausau area. www.wausaucvb.com click on the Lodging /Accommodations link. Please be sure you ask about the cancellation policy of any hotel or motel you choose. Make sure when reserving any hotels that the cancellation policy is clear!! Statement of Non-Liability Membership Information Single Membership - $50.00 Includes (1) one vote, 1 Newsletter Family Membership - $75.00 Immediate family only - Includes (1) one vote, 1 Newsletter Corporate Membership - $100.00 Includes (2) two votes, 1 Newsletter ($25 each for up to 2 add l staff or family with no vote) One Week Membership - $10.00