By Kathy Thomson

Local emergency responders say any holiday cele-brations involving fireworks need to include safety and common sense, especially considering all of the grass fires that volunteers fought last weekend.

“Use lots of caution,” said Shackelford County Rural Fire Department chief Brad Henry. “With the current conditions, grass is burning well. The firefighters would like to be able to enjoy the fourth with their families, and not have to work battling fires because of someone else’s mistakes.”

Shackelford County extension agent Michaela Bradford said that large numbers of mesquite cutworms have been seen recently. 

“It is time to spray for mesquite cutworms in shade trees,” she said.

The cutworms are typically pruning leaves off of mesquite trees in this area in mid to late July, but seem to be out a little earlier this year.

“The mesquite cutworm is actually a caterpillar that turns into a plain colored moth after it runs its cycle,” said Bradford. “The eggs are laid by the moth and the hatched caterpillars feed on mesquite foliage.”