STANTON

In a recent 3-1 vote, the City Council gave final approval to the sale of fireworks for 2000 New Year’s celebrations. The city has become the first in the state to take advantage of a one-time-only California law that permits the sale of “safe and sane” fireworks from Dec. 26, 1999 to Jan. 1, 2000.

Mayor David John Shawver said he’s optimistic that fireworks will take the place of guns being fired during the holiday. “By us legalizing fireworks, we hope it will be an alternative to shooting off guns at that midnight hour,” he said.