To the editor:

We have lived in the southwestern corner of Lawrence for seven years, less than a block from the country line. Every year fireworks begin going off days before, and including, the Fourth. Lots belonging to the house where 31st Street to Kansas Highway-10 was closed several years ago now have two tents for fireworks sales; there are several more nearby.

While we know that it is illegal to shoot off fireworks within the city limits, others apparently don’t know or don’t care. Both firework stands near our street had loud displays on July 4 until midnight. The noise was aggravating so we left for a while. Fireworks were set off in different parts of Lawrence, but primarily in the southwest corner. When we returned at 10 p.m., the fireworks show was still going on. Our two cats were nervous wrecks. At least, we did not have to go to work the next day.

The hours for firework stands outside the city limits are until 10 p.m. weeknights and midnight Friday-Saturday. This is not considerate to people who live near the stands. Neighbors are the ones who must endure long hours of noise and bright lights from embers streaming down — hopefully not on roofs. County commissioners should set regulations for stands to be located farther away from residential neighborhoods with reasonable hours for firework displays.

Leslie Mills,

Lawrence