Got ants?  Tired of ladybug invasions in the fall?  Brought home bed bugs from your last trip?  Alabama Cooperative Extension professionals will moderatre a free webinar series that will take on all of these topics.  In 2013, most of the webinars will be on fire ants and other invasive ant specias.  Other topics for the year include bed bugs and various insects that invade homes each autumn.

Alabama Extension entomologist Dr. Kathy Flanders says these free webinars are designed for homeowners and the general public.

"We will provide them wilth sound, research-based management solutions for these pests from some of the best experts around the country," she says.  "The webinars are specifically for ordinary people wno need answers they can use."

"Participating is as simple as clicking on a web link."

Each webinar will begin at 1 p.m.

Got ants?  Tired of ladybug invasions in the fall?  Brought home bed bugs from your last trip?  Alabama Cooperative Extension professionals will moderatre a free webinar series that will take on all of these topics.  In 2013, most of the webinars will be on fire ants and other invasive ant specias.  Other topics for the year include bed bugs and various insects that invade homes each autumn.

Alabama Extension entomologist Dr. Kathy Flanders says these free webinars are designed for homeowners and the general public.

"We will provide them wilth sound, research-based management solutions for these pests from some of the best experts around the country," she says.  "The webinars are specifically for ordinary people wno need answers they can use."

"Participating is as simple as clicking on a web link."

Each webinar will begin at 1 p.m.

The Christmas and New Year holidays are a time for families and friends to get together.  Your Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office reminds you, however that entertaining and decorating can also mean a greater risk for fire.  Following are a few simple safety tips designed to ensure a happy and safe winter holiday season. 

DECORATING

• Be careful with decorations by choosing flame resistant or flame retardant materials.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations or anything that can burn.
• Some lighting is designed only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both so be sure to read manufacturer’s instructions.
• Replace any string of lights with broken or frayed cords or loose bulb connections and, again, read manufacturer’s instructions for numbers of strands which may be connected.
• Use clips, not nails or staples to hang lights so the cords remain undamaged.
• Keep decorations away from window