Independence Day Trash Schedule will not be interrupted on Friday, July 4th. It will run on schedule. 

Painful Pest Can Be Eliminated Using the Two-Step Method

JACKSON, Tenn. – Fire ants are a common nuisance in Tennessee lawns, infesting residential neighborhoods, schools, playgrounds, golf courses, parks and more. University of Tennessee Extension is offering control recommendations to help keep these painful pests from ruining your summer fun.

“Fire ants are easy to disturb, and their stings can cause anaphylaxis if someone is allergic,” says Kim Brown, UT Extension specialist. “To keep you and your community safe, we encourage using the two-step method of fire ant management.”

For step one, broadcast applications of bait-formulated insecticides should be conducted once in spring and again in fall to control colonies before they become established. Hand-held applicators can be used to distribute bait evenly across lawns, suppressing mounds by up to 90% when used according to label directions.

“Fire ant bait has low rates of insecticide and no residual activity. If you have children or pets, you can use this method in your yard and still enjoy being outdoors. However, if colonies are still present after seven to 10 days, proceed to the second step,” says Brown.

For step two, remaining colonies should be treated individually by sprinkling bait one to three feet around the mound. Both broadcast applications and individual treatments should be conducted while ants are foraging or actively leaving the mound in search of food. To determine if ants are foraging, place one to two tablespoons of bait or a small amount of canned tuna, hot dog, an oily potato chip or other greasy foods nearby. If these samples attract fire ants within 30 minutes, it is an ideal time to apply.

“Foraging activity slows when temperatures drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit or rise above 90,” says Karen Vail, professor and Extension urban entomologist. “In the summer, late afternoon or early evening is a good time to treat mounds. Do not mix bait with other materials or use outdated insecticides, anything older than two years or not stored in an airtight container must be replaced. Once opened, stored bait can become distasteful to ants over time, so only purchase the quantity needed for the current application. It is also important to apply when grass is dry and rain is not expected, ensuring the ants can easily bring bait back to the nest.”

Flammable substances like gasoline are not recommended for fire ant control, as they pose safety risks to the user and can contaminate the soil. Home remedies, such as large quantities of boiling water, can eliminate mounds approximately 60% of the time, particularly on cool, sunny mornings when ants are near the surface. However, in addition to potentially harming the applicator and surrounding lawn, boiling water often does not kill the queen and instead causes the colony to relocate.

“In addition to baits, other individual treatment options for step two include drenches, which are diluted liquid concentrates poured on top; dusts, which are powdery insecticides sprinkled across the mound; and injectable products, which are inserted directly inside. Regardless of the product you choose, always follow the label instructions and apply only the recommended amount,” says Brown. “The colony should die off anywhere from days to weeks later depending on the product selected.”

For more information on fire ant control, please visit fireants.tennessee.edu or contact your local county Extension office.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.

6/24/25

This week’s heatwave is the hottest weather of the year and power demand is high here. As the temperature increases throughout the week, the need for reliable electricity will, too. TVA has the resources in place and a detailed plan to meet this tight power supply situation. LES crews are jointly working to make reliable power available to you. We are asking for your help, too. By reducing your power usage during a few hours this week, you can help keep your own power bill under control and ensure there is plenty of power available for everyone.

During the hottest hours of the day, between 12 noon and 8 p.m., beginning Tuesday, June 24, 2025, please turn your thermostat up – even one degree makes a difference – and avoid any unnecessary power use. Other energy-saving tips include:

*Use major appliances in the morning or later at night
*Turn off lights and unneeded electrical items
*Keep curtains and blinds closed on the sunny side of your home
*Use fans to keep air moving in your home
*Unplug electronics not in use
*Fire up the outside grill instead of using indoor kitchen appliances

Lewisburg Electric System and TVA have cut back on power use in our own facilities by adjusting thermostats; reducing lighting and taking other measures to reduce electricity consumption.
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1. The Industrial Development Board will not have a monthly meeting for the Month of July 2025.
The Mayor and Council of the City of Lewisburg will hold a regular monthly work session on Tuesday, July 1st, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., at Lewisburg City Hall, 131 E. Church Street.

2. All offices of the City of Lewisburg will be closed on Friday, July 4th, 2025, in celebration of the Independence Day Holiday.

3. The Lewisburg Water & Wastewater Board will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 8th, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., at Lewisburg Water Department, 100 Water Street.

4. The Mayor and Council of the City of Lewisburg will hold their regular monthly Council Meeting, Tuesday, July 8th, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at Lewisburg City Hall, 131 East Church Street.

5. The Airport Board of the City of Lewisburg will meet Monday, July 14th, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at Lewisburg Ellington Airport, 1877 Franklin Pike.

6. The City of Lewisburg Planning & Zoning Commission will meet in their regular session on Tuesday, July 15th, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., at the City of Lewisburg, 131 East Church Street.

7. The Budget Committee for the City of Lewisburg will meet on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., at Lewisburg City Hall, 131 E. Church Street.

8. The Lewisburg Parks & Recreation Advisory Board will meet Monday, July 21st, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. in the small conference room at the Lewisburg Recreation Center, 1551 Mooresville Hwy.

9. The Lewisburg Electric System will hold their regular monthly meeting Monday July 28th, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., at the Lewisburg Electric System, located at 599 West Ellington Pkwy.

10. The Community Development Board of the City of Lewisburg will hold their regular monthly meeting Tuesday July 29th, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., at the Historic 1st Avenue Building, located at 207 1st Ave. N.

11. The Lewisburg Gas Board will meet in their regular session on Tuesday, July 29th, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., at Lewisburg Gas Department, 505 North Ellington Pkwy.

The Marshall County Board of Public Utilities at 624 West Commerce Street Lewisburg will be closed Friday, July 4, 2025, in observance of Independence Day. The office will reopen on Monday, July 7th at 8:00 am.

WJJM Radio Stations will be fully automated starting Friday July 4th, and the office will be closed on Friday. The station will live again Monday morning at 7 a.m., and the office will be open on Monday at 8:30 a.m.

The Marshall County Courthouse, Courthouse Annex, and Hardison Annex will be closed on Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

The Marshall County Probation Office will be closed on Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

The Marshall County Building Codes and Zoning Office will be closed on Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

The Marshall Co Solid Waste office and all convenience centers will be closed on Friday July 4th. To make up for the closure all centers will be open on Wednesday July 2nd.

All offices of the City of Lewisburg will be closed on Friday, July 4th in celebration of the Independence Day Holiday.