Fireworks sales in Yuba-Sutter on par with past years

Isaiah O'Neal has one simple rule for fireworks.

"The biggest ones are the best ones," the 7-year-old Yuba City boy explained.

Isaiah and his mother, Heidi, bought a big package of festive explosives on Monday afternoon from the Sutter Community Church booth on Colusa Avenue.

Click here to find fireworks stands in Yuba-Sutter.

While some national reports have indicated slumping sales, fireworks in Yuba-Sutter are moving at just about the same pace as previous years.

"The first few days, we were selling more than we did last year, but it's kind of slowed down the last few days," said Melissa Overmire. "It's a little more spread out than it was last year, but maybe it's because it's happening in the middle of the week."

Overmire was part of a group slinging package deals at Ninth and E streets in Marysville for the Paragon Collegiate Academy.

The Linda Firemen's Association also said its sales were about on par with previous years.

"We have a new fountain, the Peacock Tail Fountain, that's sold pretty well and, other than that, it's been just about as good as last year," explained Scott McCoubrey.

While many still haven't decided where they will celebrate America's 236th birthday, Yuba City's Julie Cole is fired up for her party.

"We're having kind of a big crowd for a barbecue, maybe like 30 or 40 people," Cole said.

Cole was pricing fireworks Monday before heading to work. She planned to return to the booths in the afternoon to purchase an assortment of fire flowers, sparklers and small pyrotechnics.

Cole was a little blown away at what she felt were steep prices.

"I'll be buying less (fireworks) than I did last year," she said. "They're outrageous. It almost makes it impossible."

Others, like Linda's William Simerley, said he thinks prices are about the same as they've always been.

Simerley said he plans to stay home with his family on the Fourth for a quiet evening and, of course, a few fireworks.

"I'd love to grab the big box, the $500 box, but not this year," Simerley said.

Liz King, who has sold fireworks for the Sutter Community Church for the last three years, expects today to be the busiest of the week.

"We'll usually have someone at the window constantly," King said.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.