Omaha, NE--Oh, say, can you see the fireworks stands starting to pop up across Omaha?

Starting Saturday, for the first time in decades, people can legally purchase and use fireworks in Omaha to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Sales and use of all fireworks approved by the Nebraska State Fire Marshal are allowed in the city from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. Saturday through July 4.

The City Council approved 35 nonprofit groups to sell fireworks and most are hoping that longtime wholesalers such as Bellino Fireworks of Papillion and Crazy Cracker Fireworks of Lincoln can guide them to a star-spangled pot of gold. Some will be using their own volunteers to sell the inventory.

The Omaha Community Playhouse's stand — in the parking lot of the No Frills Supermarket at 820 N. Saddle Creek Road — will be staffed by employees of Crazy Cracker Fireworks. Playhouse volunteers will be at the stand at various times to answer questions about the theater and its productions.

For 40 percent of the net profits, the fireworks company will erect the stand, obtain occupancy certification from the city, provide insurance and handle all sales.

“We're hoping for a sizable profit,” said Katie Wortmann, the director of marketing for the theater. “But this being our the first time we've tried this, we really don't know what to expect.”

She said the theater is relying on social media and its email newsletter to advertise the stand, but the rest of the operation is left to Crazy Cracker Fireworks.

Pat Egan, president of Crazy Cracker Fireworks, is a former insurance man who has been selling fireworks for 50 years. His company also is staffing tents for the Siena Francis House and the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation on Millard Avenue between 134th and 135th Streets, as well as providing inventory for the St. Patrick Catholic Church stand at 145th Street and West Center Road.

“We're glad Omaha is finally going to get the sales tax for the fireworks that otherwise had been going out of town,” Egan said. “We think our (revenue) splits are good for the nonprofits, and it's something that the city should keep an eye on.”

Omaha Roncalli High School and the 100 Black Men of Omaha are two groups that will use their own volunteers at their stands.

“We sort of have a built-in workforce,” said Jeff Dempsey, Roncalli's president. “The students are excited about it.”

Preparations and inventory for the Roncalli tent at 9635 Ida St. will be provided by Ka-Boomers Fireworks of Wahoo, Neb.

Dempsey said the school hopes to net about $15,000 that will go toward tuition assistance for students. Roncalli has been sending fliers and emails to attract shoppers as well as posting messages on its Facebook page.

Bellino Fireworks will do all the prep work for the 100 Black Men of Omaha stand, which will be set up in the Crossroads Mall parking lot facing Dodge Street, then turn it over to the group's volunteers.

James Mason, executive director of the nonprofit, said his group's goal is to raise $20,000. He said the group hopes to attract passers-by with the booming enthusiasm of its volunteers.

“If we made $30,000 or $40,000, we would be ecstatic,” Mason said. “We're hoping people would spend their fireworks money in town rather than drive to Sarpy County or even down to Rock Port (Mo.).”

Don Bellino, president of Bellino Fireworks, said his company is providing inventory and support for eight of the Omaha stands. He expects sales at Sarpy County fireworks stands to fizzle by about 50 percent because of the Omaha competition.

“The biggest thing to fear is oversaturation because then no one makes money,” Bellino said. “But I think (fireworks sales) are going to be a good thing for a lot of these organizations.”

Larry Knudson, owner of Paul Revere Fireworks of Bellevue, said he thinks people still will drive to Rock Port and other Missouri towns to get fireworks, despite road closings because of flooding and the new stands in Omaha. The people who go to Missouri, he said, are looking for cheaper prices or the bottle rockets that are illegal in Nebraska.

“The big question this year is how much money will cross the border from Sarpy County to Omaha,” Knudson said.

Dan Williams, president of Wild Willy's Fireworks of Springfield, expects the suburban stands to retain their loyal customers. He predicted that the additional stands in the area will bring out new customers.

“I think those law-abiding citizens who wouldn't buy fireworks before because they were illegal in Omaha now will come out to buy them.”

Contact the writer: 402-444-1272, kevin.cole@owh.com