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- THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
JULY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2004
Photo illustrations by Courtney Kuhlen
Fireworks abound despite ordinance
By Erik Johnson
ejohnson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The hiss and echoed crack of a bottlerocket bursting over a distant home is a celebration common during Fourth of July weekends across the country.
But in Lawrence, unless the "oohs" and "ahs" typically following this scene come from the lawns of permitted fireworks displays, someone is breaking the law.
The city passed an ordinance in 2002 banning all fireworks not classified by the United States Department of Transportation as "novelties" within Lawrence city limits. Novelty items include party poppers, snappers, snakes, toy caps and toy smoke devices.
Sparklers are allowed in the city from June 27 to July 5 as a part of state-permitted items.
A brief look skyward on the weekend surrounding the Fourth of July reveals that the citywide ban on fireworks has not snuffed out the desires of University of Kansas students to get their hands on a few small rockets or Roman
Candles.
After all, Missouri is just a short drive away.
Ryan Markham, Prairie Village senior, makes a drive across the state border every year before the Fourth of July to buy fireworks to entertain his friends.
He said the paper-wrapped explosives were too cheap and too fun to pass up.
"You can get some good, safe fireworks for like ten dollars," Markham said. "I just don't see why not."
Markham stopped Sunday at Crazy Joe's
Fireworks, 171st Street and Holmes Road, Belton Mo. Marcia Gallagher and her daughter Sherri Siscoe have sold fireworks at Crazy Joe's from June 20 to July 4 for 35 years.
Siscoe said she saw quite a few Kansas residents at her tent, some asking for packs that didn't contain rocket-like fireworks to stay within the law. The big stuff, she said, wasn't usually purchased by students.
"The kids usually come earlier in the week to buy the little stuff; bottlerockets, Buzz Bombs, that stuff," Siscoe said. "The parents with their families they go for the mortar shells and other bigger things."
Luke Kearney, Overland Park senior, said he traveled to Missouri to purchase fireworks because Kansas didn't sell the ones he wanted.
And he's not worried about getting caught, he said.
"I've been lighting off fireworks since I was in grade school and have never had a problem," Kearney said. "I don't think they'll enforce it too tough over the weekend."
SEE FIREWORKS ON PAGE 17