WHEELERSBURG - Fireworks may be more prevalent on the Fourth of July than on New Year's Eve. But plenty of people will shoot them off tonight, if Crazy Coo Fireworks' Saturday business is any indication.

“Between December 27 and December 31, we probably have about 200 people,” store owner Patricia Cooper said.

That is about 1/10 of the business Cooper has in July, however.

She said customers buy a larger variety of fireworks in July because they will set them off for a longer period of time.

“But for New Year's Eve, they probably just want two big bangs, because it's cold outside and it's dark,” Cooper said. “Fireworks are better than shooting a gun. The police department warns people about shooting a gun because that stray bullet could go somewhere. So the fireworks are a better alternative, in my opinion.”

However, it is illegal to set off fireworks in Ohio.

“You have to sign a form saying you are taking them out of state to set them off,” Cooper said. “Now what you do when you leave my premises is completely your business.”

Most customers will buy a 40 or 50-shot unit to celebrate New Year's Eve, she said.

“They buy color also, but they mainly want noise for New Year's Eve,” Cooper said.

West Virginia resident Jason Clagg was among the shoppers at Crazy Coo on Saturday.

“We're just getting a little bit of everything,” he said. “In West Virginia we can't do anything big, so we're getting small novelty items and things we can do in town without getting the cops called on us.”

So why shoot off fireworks in the middle of winter with the chance of getting into trouble?

“I like fireworks any time of the year,” Clagg, 20, said. “My uncle got me started when I was 3 years old and I've been crazy about them ever since.”

Clagg's uncle was a truck driver who would bring fireworks back to West Virginia from Ohio.

Cooper said those shooting off fireworks tonight should make sure they are clear of trees and houses and that they don't tip over while on the ground.

The large stock at Crazy Coo comes from China and Japan, she said.

“We have probably 20 different name brands that we try to carry,” Cooper said. “So our customers will have a very large selection.”

JEFF BARRON can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.