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Today is Friday, July 3, 2009. Here are the upcoming events for the next 30 days:
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| Posted on July 1st, 2009 at 6:29:16 AM by Mayor Sherry E. Howard | The July Fourth holiday period is a great reason for celebration, but we all need to remember the threat this holiday represents to personal safety. We want you to have fun, but we want you to be safe too! Based on history, an estimated 400 people will die on our nation’s highways this holiday. This holiday is not only one of the most dangerous driving weekends of the year, but water and cookout related activities also create a safety risk. Remember these safety reminders:
HOLIDAY TRAFFIC SAFETY
Be aware of and avoid drunk drivers. Some signs include: Drivers who turn with a wide radius.
Drivers at speeds 10 miles below the speed limit or speeding excessively. Drivers who are following too closely. Drivers who have a slow response to traffic signals. Never drink and drive. Alcohol is the single largest factor involved in motor vehicle deaths. Have a responsible designated driver when you head out for Fourth of July activities. Don’t allow the holiday rush to affect your driving. A few extra minutes saved by reckless driving aren’t worth the injuries you may cause to yourself and others. When attending firework displays and special events, remember to obey all traffic lanes and signals, and avoid cutting directly across parking lots. Never race other drivers to an open parking space. When leaving the festivities, pay attention while backing out of your parking space to avoid hitting other vehicles or pedestrians.
WATER SAFETY
Wear a life jacket: The overwhelming majority, a 70 percent, of boating fatalities involves drowning, and of those who drowned, 86 percent were not wearing a life jacket. With a number of colors and styles available, there is no excuse for not wearing a life jacket these days.
Make sure your boat is properly equipped, and your equipment is good working order: Boaters are urged to carry all the legally required equipment, such as life jackets and fire extinguishers, plus some recommended items, such as a first aid kit, charts of the area and an anchor. Since this is usually one of the few times that many boaters venture out at night, be sure to check your navigation lights to make sure that they are working properly so you can be seen by other boats. Avoid Alcohol: As much as 50 percent of all boating accidents involve alcohol. Alcohol challenges your judgment, balance, and vision - all of which are necessary to operate a boat. Studies have indicated that passengers are also 10 times more likely to fall overboard when they have been consuming alcohol.
Maintain a sharp lookout: This weekend will have more boats on the water than any other time of the year, so everyone will need to keep a sharp lookout for other boaters to avoid a collision. This is especially true when approaching a bend, in crowded waterways, and at night or during conditions of restricted visibility.
Carry a marine radio or cell phone to call for help: Be prepared in the event that your boat becomes disabled, or you are involved in an accident, or otherwise need assistance. The preferred method for contacting the Coast Guard is the VHF-FM radio, because they can use direction-finding equipment to locate you, and other boaters who also have marine radios can hear your call for help. While cell phones are acceptable, make sure you have a full battery, and beware - there are often gaps in cell phone coverage on the water.
OUTDOOR GRILL SAFETY
Cook with fresh food and store meats and other perishables in an insulated cooler to prevent bacterial growth. Keep grills away from all flammable materials, including trees and shrubbery. Store unused starter fluid and charcoal briquettes away from the grill, preferably in a fireproof container. Keep your children away from the grill. Gas grills can have an interior temperature of more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit. Never add starter fluid to an already burning grill. The fire can spread up the stream of starter fluid and into the can causing an explosion. Also, wash your hands after using starter fluid to avoid setting yourself on fire.
FIREWORK SAFETY
Be sure that the fireworks display you plan on attending is a legitimate one. Legitimate firework events will have proper authorities and medical staff in attendance. Never take pets to a firework display. Animals can become spooked very easily by the loud noises fireworks make.
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| Posted on June 18th, 2009 at 7:22:38 AM by Mayor Sherry E. Howard | As the weather warms up, more people will be working or playing outdoors, which increases the likelihood of finding the beneficial reptiles. However, there are preventative measures available that can lesson the risk of an encounter.
“The number one thing people can do to deter snakes is to remove any debris that is lying around,” Mueller said. “Keep your lawn mowed and get rid of brush piles. Anywhere that attracts rodents, snakes will also be hanging around.”
Other natural snake deterrents are household pets such as cats and dogs. Just them milling about in the grass will decrease the hospitality level for snakes. Cats also have a natural tendency to investigate and play with anything that comes into their territory.
If you’re going to be working outdoors in areas prone to snakes, Mueller recommends wearing long pants, tall-topped boots and leggings, if possible.
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