Fireworks sales begin today in towns across Nebraska. The legislature this year approved a New Year's window for fireworks sales and use, giving municipalities the choice of whether or not to adopt the change.

      Many cities said "no thanks," while others took varying actions. The Chadron City Council, for example, approved the use of fireworks New Year's Eve but took no action on sales.

      That's because Chadron many years ago decided not to regulate the sales of fireworks, leaving it in the hands of the state. As a result, Jancik’s Fireworks went directly to the state for a permit in Chadron.

     Jancik's has sold fireworks locally for the 4th of July for several years, and is once again near the junction of Highways 20 and 385. Hours will be 10-10 today and tomorrow, 10 am-midnight on Friday.

    The Scottsbluff and Gering city councils both approved ordinances for sales and use. Eric Wilcox of Discount Fireworks doesn't know what volume of sales to expect, but had potential customers wanting to make purchases even while the store was being set up earlier in the week.

    Scottsbluff and Gering set their fireworks use hours from 4:30 p.m. New Year's Eve to 12:30 am New Year's day.  Chadron, on the other hand, decided to start and run later with fireworks allowed from 5 pm Friday to 1 am Saturday.

    Neither Chadron Police Chief Tim Lordino or his Scottsbluff counterpart Alex Moreno anticipate any major problems, but both say their departments will enforce the rules.