So does this mean a burn ban is in effect? Does this mean no fireworks? I hope so but it doesn't sound like it. My neighborhood is already gearing up for the 4th. One of the worst offenders is a fireman who works in the metro! I've learned to dread this holiday.

My dogs hate it, fireworks aren't supposed to be in the city limits but someone always has them.

We just got back from driving into town down 144.    I had seen a huge plume of smoke earlier today and hub told me that last night a house on 2008 burned down. (I smelled smoke when I got home last night from the school board meeting. Tonight the smoke was thick and was coming from somewhere east of 144 about 5 miles out of town; the sheriff's department and fire department were out there and said somebody had decided to burn brush. For myself, I can't remember the last time it rained, can you?

I heard sirens this afternoon. Didn't see any plume from that direction although I did see one east of 144 between 202 and 2002 this afternoon.

The wildlife hates the fireworks, too. The deer have had their young and are squeezed tightly as it is.  I live outside the city limits. I have learned that the lack of restrictions in an unincorporated area only protects the rights of those who indulge in obnoxious behavior. The rest of us have no rights.

So, will the county put a burn ban into effect? This is the only intelligent thing to do since one cannot count on the common sense of one's neighbors. 

I can see that this is an older group on this site. From someone who has young kids, i love watching their eyes light up when they get to watch fireworks. I think we have all forgotten what it was like when we were young. All we can talk about is one day per year that things are too loud and something needs to be done. Let's remember the kids and all relax and enjoy the holiday. Remember that is stands for freedom, and everyday that goes by we are losing more and more of our freedom. Let's focus on bigger issues.

@realworld. We have all ages on this site, I hate to assume you are very young and naive simply because of your statement.  I also like fireworks and think it's great we live in the country where one can have them. That said, I woke up this morning to another thick smell of acrid smoke, and we are under a burn ban, which includes fireworks. Burning down the county and people's property simply to indulge a child who wants to see fireworks is, in my view, irresponsible. I believe we can all enjoy the holiday and still respect the ordinances of the county we live in.

Sure felt old this morning...caffeine and sugar are my only hope.  Amen on the rest.

Dear realworld,

The real world is not all about what a child wants. There are many firework displays put on for the public in a controlled, safe environment. You could chose to take your kids to one of these events while using this as an opportunity to teach them the dangers of starting a fire in this kind of country and how this could harm your neighbors and the wildlife.

One day a year? In my area, it usually starts about two weeks before until two weeks after the 4th. Then, of course, there's always New Year's.

Watching the wild creatures panic as I listen for the inevitable rockets that will land in the wild places around my house or on my roof makes it impossible to relax. It's clear to me that you haven't lived long enough to understand how quickly an innocent activity can turn deadly.

Bigger issues? Has it occurred to you that one of the primary reasons we are losing our freedoms is because the world population continues to grow unchecked? Look at Japan. Look at Europe. No private individual's desires in these countries take precedence over what is good for the larger group.

PS: I've enjoyed 62 revolutions around the Sun and haven't forgotten a thing about my youth. Did you know that some cultures, although not ours, actually revere those who have lived and learned?

humanbeing

let's not blame the WORLD population growing unchecked as the reason we are losing our freedom's. Let's blame liberal America and the over reactive nature of our people and government. As far as the wildlife goes, i do not believe in senseless acts that kill animals, but just as the liberal nation that i speak of, people use animals for excuses (Golden Cheek Warblers ring a bell?). There can be an excuse to not do anything (rock crushing, fireworks, etc.) and it is because of the liberal groups that argue everything that all of the many socialistic laws are passed. The 4th of July is about freedom, which gets taken more from us everyday, such as digging rock on your own land, or playing with your kids and doing fireworks. I do not want to go watch other people light the fireworks and we just sit there. Part of the fun is lighting the one you want to light and watching it go off. But, because of a few irresponsible people all of our rights go away more and more every day.

@realworld. Heh.  I really doubt that the group that is behind saving Chalk Mountain can be characterized as a *liberal* group.   Mr Best, who is a fine man, a Republican and running the Chamber right now, would, I"m betting, disagree with you. And it's more than a little ironic that you talk about irresponsibility, when letting your many small childen light fireworks when there is a burn ban and disaster proclamation out would be teaching them that their personal *freedom* allows them to be entirely selfish and disregard the rules and laws.

So, to review. You are a power cheerleader for the nuclear power plant, while also working on an economic development committee,  don't really grasp how not only the internet but people quoting you in various venues works. While espousing freedoms and the lack of them, you would seek to curtail freedom of speech. You use knee-jerk reaction labels to attempt to paint liberals because,um, you have no problem with the destruction of Chalk Mountain in the name of Tommy whosits rock crushers, and you don't like it that someone might want people, regardless of a burn ban or not, to exercise some common sense, be considerate of other people, and not light fires until at least we get a good soak. You have had some other laughable comments that were not approved for comment because you apparently don't know how to read comment rules.

Realworld,

Unlimited increase in the number of people per square acre will change the way we live and limit what we can do. If we continue recklessly pushing our planet past the tipping point, we won't be around to have any more boring arguments about liberal vs. conservative. Of course, this certainly isn't the only factor diminishing our freedom. Bush and Company, as I recall, did a pretty good job with that. By the way, what specific freedoms have you lost?

Who's to blame? We all are. Who can fix it? All of us.

So while you're out in your yard playing with your fireworks and exercising your freedom, you might just ask yourself what freedoms your neighbors have to feel safe and serene on the 4th of July.

Rule of law, if the county bands fireworks for safety reason, thats it.  If they say you can, ok.  Chalk Mountain comes under, not in my back yard, you should be able to do as you please with your property and others have the right to protest and try to stop you.  I hauled rock for years, the dust is not something I would want to live next to.  And realworld, you have the right to excercise your freedom of speech.

Would like to take a minute to say, hats off to the Somervell County VOLENTEER Fire Dept., they go out all hours of the day and night, (I know I live by it) hot or cold, they even sends spotters out during severe weather armed only with a 2-way radio and a seat belt to keep an eye out for us, beween them and the Sheriff's dept. they make life a lot safer.