BOOMING TRADE SET TO BEGIN

Since 1777, Americans have celebrated their independence. The most popular and traditional way is with fireworks.

Residents can begin celebrating Tuesday when local fireworks stands open for the Fourth of July season.

Under state regulations, vendors can sell fireworks from June 20 to July 10. In Cape Girardeau, vendors are only able to sell them until July 4.

Seasonal stands must have a business license for each site. The licenses cost $25 each.

Regina Pearson of the city merchant license office said 10 to 12 stands usually apply for the license in Cape Girardeau.

Some stands will be ready to sell before they have the license, Pearson said. By early Wednesday afternoon, only three licenses had been issued.

Last year, Missouri issued more than 1,300 licenses for fireworks stands. By Wednesday, 1,275 licenses had been issued by the fire safety office in Jefferson City.

In Cape Girardeau County, the fire department inspects each fireworks stand.

Four of Cape Girardeau stands are operated by two companies: Hoffman Family Fireworks and Kinder Fireworks.

Rick Hoffman, who operates Hoffman Family Fireworks, said state regulations have made it more difficult to operate the stands. Hoffman said the regulations are good for the industry.

"It's much easier to regulate and control," he said.

But the regulations have almost entirely eliminated the smaller, family-operated stands, Hoffman said.

"You are either in it for the large scale or not in it at all," he said.

Because Hoffman operates seven stands between Perryville and Advance, he buys a trailer load of fireworks each year.

There is an item or two that always sells well each year, he said.

"It depends on what movie is a hit," Hoffman said.

Knowing what fireworks to buy or what quantity to keep in stock can be difficult, said Chris Wheeler, who manages the three Kinder Fireworks stands in Cape Girardeau. His sister operates the stands in Poplar Bluff.

"People were conservative last year," Wheeler said. "The larger dollar sales were not as common as years before. I foresee it being the same this year."

But the stand has one of the best sites in town -- The Schnucks parking lot along Kingshighway -- which helps sales, he said. The stand has occupied the site annually for about 20 years. He also has a stand at the Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart.

"The Wal-Mart stand will do a lot better business this year," he said. "It might be a good competitor for this stand."

Children and teen-agers typically favor the "snap and pop" fireworks and bottle rockets, Wheeler said.

From June 20 to July 3, fireworks can be discharged from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Cape Girardeau and from 8 to 10 p.m. in Jackson. On July 4, the hours are extended until midnight.

In Scott City, vendors can't sell the fireworks until June 25. Stands are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., but fireworks can only be discharged from 6 to 9 p.m. from June 25 to July 3 and from 8 a.m. to midnight on July 4.