Rocket Man

Malta's Dwight Score spends most of his days making cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets and French Fries as the owner of Joe's in and Out, but on those rare days off, he kind of enjoys blowing stuff up.

"This is my Christmas," Score joked as he loaded fireworks into a box in the bed of his truck. "Christmas in August."

Prior to the demolition derby at the Phillips County Fair two Saturdays ago, Score and his assistant, Cole Brown, strategically plugged artillery shells into about 30 tubes housed in a wooden safety box. The night before, Score set off the fireworks over the Grandstand following the Clay Walker Concert and things were successful. On Saturday night, he was confident he would have another successful show.

"This show will only be about 10-minutes as we set off about 30 fireworks," said Score. "They are all shot off from a safe distance with a remote detonator and I have everything figured out as far as how long everything lasts and my fuse times. Hopefully people like it."

Score built a new fireworks stand near Joe's this summer and he said that he has been doing smaller shows for friends and family for many years.

"This is something that I have always wanted to do," Score said. "I do a show like this at the lake every year, but this is the first time I have been able to do a show with an audience this size."

Score said that he hopes to make his firework shows at the lake and at the Phillips County Fair bigger and more elaborate over the coming years and perhaps do another show in conjunction with the Malta City and Phillips County Volunteer Firefighters at future Independence Day celebrations.

"Not to step on them or anything," Score added. "They do a wonderful job and have for many years. I'd just like to help out as a way to give back to the community a little bit."

Score said that he has loved fireworks since he was old enough to understand what they are and in the past has been able to help and watch demolition crews blow up the sides of mountains. Score said going forward he hopes to obtain his Class III License.

"That is a goal because then I can get those big, six-round shells and stuff like that," he said. "But I haven't gotten that far yet."