Public Sale & Use of Fireworks Prohibited AND Public Fireworks Displays on HOLD in Travis County

Travis County Commissioners Court was presented information June 14, 2011 regarding the imminent threat of wildfire in Travis County.  A local disaster declaration is required to prohibit the sale and use of fireworks.  Governor Perry has extended the Proclamation Declaring Local State of Disaster and Prohibiting Sale and Use of Fireworks through 7 a.m. on July 5, 2011.

The continued lack of rain has created conditions that could allow a fire to quickly devastate large areas.  The dry vegetation and frequent windy days could spread wildfires quickly and make them extremely difficult to extinguish.

Celebrating Independence Day with fireworks is a long-standing tradition in the United States.  We as a nation are very proud to be free and independent from foreign control.  However, the uncontrolled use of fireworks, in our current and forecast conditions, poses a hazard to the citizens and property of Travis County that is too great a risk to bear.

We would like to thank the public for their understanding during these extreme conditions, and their continued support to protect life and property in Travis County.

For these same reasons, local Fire Authorities throughout Travis County have restricted public fireworks shows due to extreme wildfire risk around July 4^th holiday. Permits for public fireworks shows during the current extreme wildfire danger will not be approved.

When the weather conditions improve, Authorities will reevaluate any pending request for permits and grant approvals accordingly.

Check www.wellsbranchmud.com or www.wbna.us for updates regarding the status of July 4^th fireworks and watch for signs throughout the neighborhood should the MUD receive last minute approval.

These restrictions remain in effect at ALL times even if the County is not enforcing a fireworks or burn ban.

USE OF FIREWORKS ON MUD PROPERTY is prohibited at all times. This includes all MUD facilities, parks, trails, greenbelts, the Pond, drainage detention areas, the veloway, and the grassy area located at Robert I. Walker and Charla Circle.  For any questions concerning firework use on district property, please contact the MUD office at 251-9814.

In addition, Texas law prohibits the discharge of fireworks on school district property. The Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 2154, Subchapter F, Section 2154.251 (a) (1), states that a person may not explode or ignite fireworks within 600 feet of any church, a hospital other than a veterinary hospital, an asylum, a licensed child care center, or a public or private primary or secondary school or institution of higher education unless the person receives authorization in writing from that organization.

Submitted by Kate Raidt

Renee Sendelbach, 33, of Wells Branch has recently won the title “Mom of the Month” by the national parenting website SWparents.com. Sendelbach is fighting stage 4 breast cancer for the second time in her young life but has managed to keep her family, especially her 4-year old son Ian, her top priority during her fight with cancer.

“My boys, as I like to call my husband and my son, keep me grounded and remind me what I have to live for” says Sendelbach. It’s no surprise why she won the votes of over 50,000 subscribers from SWparents.com.

Sendelbach also adds, “Even on days I don’t feel good it is easy to keep going by seeing Ian’s love for me, for life, for everything – it reminds me of my number one priority – to see him grow up into a caring, respectful man.”

SWparents.com is owned by The Southwestern Company – an 150-year old publishing company based in Nashville, Tennessee. Their sister company is FatNoggin.com – one of the world’s largest online bookstores for discounted books. Winners of “Mom of the Month” receive a free book of their choice from FatNoggin.com.