By Brittany Hanson/Garden Grove Journal
The Fourth of July celebrations just got a little longer in Stanton. On Tuesday, an agenda item was approved that extended the permitted use of fireworks from only on July 4 to now being between July 1 to July 4, the regulated dates of fireworks sales.
“We sell the fireworks on these days, but people are only allowed to use them on one,” said David Shawver, mayor pro tem, “We’re saying you can buy them, just don’t use them . . . if we don’t approve this, we’re making offenders out of otherwise non-criminal people.”
The motion for the extension actually brings Stanton closer to older policies that were in place in the city from 1995 to 2007, where safe and sane fireworks could be bought and used in the city from July 1 to 4 and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
In previous years, the longer permitted discharge of fireworks was done away with because of complaints about disturbances and noise.
According to Lt. Jeff Pasalaqua, in 2010 there were 36 calls made to Stanton’s police services about the use of fireworks. Of those 36, 24 were made on the Fourth of July. Pasalaqua said that there has not been much of a problem with the use of illegal fireworks in Stanton lately.
Shawver also cited that the use extension could boost sales for the fireworks vendors, which are non-profit and charitable organizations.
“It would be disadvantageous to our charities,” said Shawver, “ They could earn more.”
This year, the fireworks vendors are The Knights of Columbus #6095, Stanton Lighthouse Community Church, Stanton Little League, Boys & Girls Club of Stanton, Kiwanis Club of Greater Stanton, Kiwanis Club of Greater Stanton #2 and Xclaimed Minisitries.
