LAWTON, Okla._Lawton residents may be wondering why their neighbors lawn has become overgrown and why a lawnmower hasnt been seen in weeks, but fixing the problem isnt as clear cut as one would think.

The city of Lawton has issued almost 1,500 notices since the beginning of May for grass that's over twelve inches tall. Once the home owner is notified they have ten days to mow their lawn or the city will mow it for them, but then it will end up costing them a lot more money.

Joshua Doyle says it's frustrating to see the unkempt yard across the street when he works hard so keep his lawn looking good.

"We understand if they can't cut it every week, you know it's up for sale but since it's up for sale, you should be wanting to keep a nice neat clean appearance to try and sell it," said Doyle.

The whole process from noticing the problem to mowing the lawn can take up to three weeks. Lawton Community Services Director Richard Rogalski says in that time period the grass can get even taller.

"Some grass will start at twelve inches and get to sixteen and kind of stop but Bermuda grass doesn't really get much taller than that. But some weeds and grass can get like a tree by the time we're able to get out there," explained Rogalski.

Rogalski says he's sorry if you are one of those people that's called to complain but still looking at the overgrown lawn.

"We have six inspectors at the city and they cover the 58 square miles of the city of Lawton. We have 3,000 miles of streets that you have to drive up and down to patrol the city. And in a normal course, it unfortunately can take about thirty days to get around the whole city," said Rogalski.

Once they identify which lawns need to be mowed, the city only has three contractors to do all the work. Rogalski says they encourage people to call and complain because those six sets of eyes aren't enough, so people who call take priority and making those calls does seem to work. Over half of those 1,500 lawns that were called on were mowed by the property owners. He says proper lawn maintenance is a livability issue, which is actually an economic issue.

"Keeping the grass mowed supports the economy of our entire city. Beyond that on a personal level, I mean it's your home and your property value is affected by what your neighbor's do...that's why the city has this authority," explained Rogalski.

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Tall grass solution isn't clear cut

San Diego, Calif. It is officially summer. The sun is shining and the grass in your backyard is growing quickly. At home, mowing the lawn is one of summertime's most frequent chores and its no different for the solar industry.

Credit: Nihon Shokusei

Weed or vegetation management is particularly important for ground-mounted solar systems. Tall weeds growing around the installation can create shading, which can negatively impact system production. It can also cause hot spot heating if a part of the solar cell is shaded, the cell can heat up to such extreme temperatures that a module can burn out causing permanent damage.

After the feed-in tariff (FIT) program was launched in Japan a few years ago, many ground-mounted PV systems started popping up in the country where small residential roof-top solar systems used to dominate. System owners recognize that growing vegetation under and around PV systems must be minimized to protect their valuable investment.

There are several weed control methods used for PV ground-mount systems in Japan; mowing, spraying herbicide, grazing sheep/goats, and covering the area with weed control sheets, for example. Controlling weeds incurs additional operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses for PV system owners and the long-term costs and benefits need to be carefully examined.

Mowing is the most commonly used method in Japan at this point, but we are looking into other methods, said a project developer in Japan.

Mowing is very labor-intensive and needs to be repeated twice or three times a year. Besides hiring people or renting mowing equipment, there are fees for hauling and disposing the grass clippings. Another project developer commented that it costs between 100-200 yen (US $1-2) per square meter for a 2-MW system, which is typically about 40,000 square meters. Spraying herbicide is relatively inexpensive and requires a low initial investment. But spraying has to be done repeatedly over time and there are environmental concerns associated with certain chemicals in herbicides.

Herbivorous Animals to the Rescue

Last summer, Oita Sekiyu, a gasoline distributor and PV system reseller, built a 1.1-MW solar system on an old salt-pan site in Usa city, Oita prefecture. The company chose emu, the second largest bird in the world and native to Australia, to graze the vegetation growing under the solar system.

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Getting Out of the Weeds: How To Control Vegetative Growth Under Solar Arrays

FAIRBANKSA sinkhole opened up directly beneath a University of Alaska Fairbanks employee this morning, nearly swallowing a riding lawn-mower the size of a golf-cart.

A UAF facilities services employee was mowing the lawn on the hillside near the Taku parking lot on the east side of campus just off Farmers Loop when the ground opened up beneath the mower's front left wheel.

The hole was approximately 10 feet deep, according to estimates. At the surface the hole was about 4 feet by 5 feet across and widened a bit below, according to university spokeswoman Marmian Grimes.

No one was injured in the incident, Grimes said. Facilities Services has since filled in the hole.

A handful of sinkholes have been reported in Fairbanks in the last week, following several weeks of heavy rainfall. The university has dealt with at least three sinkholes on its property one in front of the West Ridge research building and another on the east side of campus, in addition to the one that opened this morning.

Sinkholes can be caused by a number of phenomena. Occasionally they appear due to subsurface erosion from groundwater and can take place in areas where ground has been filled in and not compacted.

Darrin Edson, the superintendent of operations for facilities services, said it's unclear exactly what caused this particular sinkhole, but he said it probably didn't come from recent changes to the soil in the area.

"That hasn't been touched in over 15 years. There's a lot of frozen soils in that area so my guess would be something down below thawed and created a cavity over time, and it just collapsed on that cavity," Edson said. "All the water we've had lately just adds to it and speeds it up."

Contact staff writer Weston Morrow at 459-7520. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMschools.

Contact staff writer Weston Morrow at 459-7520. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMschools.

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Sinkhole nearly swallows mower at university campus in Fairbanks

A week following a lawn-mower accident in North Augusta, Dean Perrin said the image of his son, Luke, propped underneath the family's riding-mower is like a 'still picture' embedded in his memory. When I try to sleep, it just flashes to him underneath that tractor, said Perrin Wednesday, minutes after admitting the two-and-a-half year old into emergency surgery at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The picture of him haunts me. Luke, who underwent a second surgery Wednesday following the accident on June 29, appears to be recovering well, says his father, despite an enormous wound on his son's right leg. Now they're going to do skin grafting, where they take skin from his inner thigh and put it where the wound is, Perrin added. The procedure has a 95 per cent success rate, he said. But for both parents of the tiny, blonde-haired tot, the events of that day are never far from memory. On the morning of June 29, Dean Perrin began mowing his 38-acre property in North Augusta, including a large fenced-in dog run. As Perrin began mowing the inside of the 100-foot enclosed space, he saw that his son who loves running and playing outdoors was on the outside of the fence, and at the opposite end of the dog-run. When I was halfway to the back... I looked back and saw that he was still at the front gate outside the fence, Perrin said while recalling the incident. I drove another 15-feet, I hit a little stump... Put my foot on reverse and then I turned around and I don't know how he got there but he was right there, underneath the tractor. Perrin said he managed to lift the tractor with one hand while using the other to scoop his son out from under the tractor, ultimately fearing the worst. I frantically looked and just pictured him having no legs, said Perrin, while his wife, Theressa, was in the house with their other children. I said 'Oh my God' he has all of his limbs, and I turned him sideways a bit and I saw the massive gash. While Theressa Perrin called 9-1-1, Dean said he held Luke in his arms, knowing an ambulance might take 20 minutes to get there. I jumped in the truck, I yelled to my little seven-year-old, whos outside screaming, to go get mommy and a towel and get in the truck. Between the time of the accident and before arriving at Brockville General Hospital, Perrin said something miraculous happened. The family quickly sped towards Brockville, says Perrin, but just before arriving at County Road 6, he received a call from Ontario Provincial Police. They said: 'Okay, we're going to meet you and guide you to the hospital. Look for OPP and flash your lights. Driving between 130-140 kilometres-per-hour, Perrin arrived at Parkedale Avenue and North Augusta Road to find that OPP and Brockville Police had worked together to create a pathway. There were road blocks at three different intersections, and every street guiding us all the way to the hospital, Perrin said, referring to the effort has an amazing thing. Just 15 minutes after arriving at BGH, health-care specialists were preparing to transfer Luke to CHEO for further treatment and surgery. And while Perrin said he feels guilty for what happened, the family remains optimistic, hoping to raise an estimated $7,000 for two-months of uncovered home-care treatment. In an effort to help with home-care services and an advanced-healing vacuum unit, family members have set up a donation and Facebook page for anyone who may be interested in helping. But despite the accident, several surgeries and eventual home-care services, the Perrin's said they're just relieved to know Luke will play outside again soon.

FACTBOX: HOW TO HELP Donations for Lukes ongoing care can be made online at: http://www.gofundme.com/HELP-LUKE-WADE https://www.facebook.com/lukewaderecovery

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Horrible injury spawns heart-warming response

SHELBYVILLE Shelby County communities without their own animal control officer will be paying for those services under a plan approved Wednesday by the Shelby County Board

Were not obligated to do animal control in municipalities, but they know we will do it, said Brad Hudson, the county's animal control officer.

Under the new plan, towns and villages can choose to pay a flat fee of $2 per person of their population or $100 an incident for calling animal control. Moweaqua, for example would pay $3,640 under the per capita plan.

The county hopes the additional revenue will offset mileage costs for Hudsons travel within the county.

Were a big county, said Bob Jordan, chairman of the Animal Control Committee. We cant run from Siegel to Moweaqua in less than an hour.

The largest community in the county, Shelbyville, already has an agreement in place with the county.

Shelby County Board Chairman Bruce Cannon said Shelbyville would not fall under the new plan because the city already pays $5,000 a year for the service and provides the dog pound site and other services.

Shelbyville is not getting something other communities are not, Cannon said. The pound is on their land, they provide lawn mowing and snow removal, and they share the building maintenance costs with us.

Hudson said another area where Shelbyville helped the county was police dispatcher Penny Standefers campaign to find homes for abandoned dogs and cats.

She sends hundreds of them to adoption or foster or rescue, Hudson said. That saves us a lot in care and euthanasia costs.

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Shelby County offers animal control plan for communities

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Corpus Christi, TX Lawn Mowing | 361-446-0627 - Video

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

It's heating up outside and the summer is a time where thieves are on the lookout for lawn equipment. It's a hot commodity now because many of us use it to keep our lawns manicured.

It's what you would expect to see on a warm summer day in the College Grove subdivision of Montgomery...residents like Joshua Presley mowing the yard. But what many in this neighborhood say they wouldn't expect is for thieves to be eyeing their lawn equipment.

"I keep it in a little building in the backyard, but it's not locked or anything like that," said Montgomery Joshua Presley. "So I haven't even thought about that possibility."

But just a few streets down from Presley, Lori Gemette says it's becoming a trend.

"The push mowers, the leaf blowers, the weed eaters; apparently they are looking for things that are quick access," Gemette said. "Hurry up, pick up and get out."

On Friday, Gemette says her teen daughter scared a thief in progress.

"She said well someone is on our back porch trying to steal dad's push mower and weed eater'," Gemette said.

Gemette says the fence was unlocked.

Police say you should lock your fence with a quality, heavy duty lock.

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Thieves targeting lawn equipment in the Montgomery area

Brittany Hillen

On vacation and forgot to arrange for your lawn to be mowed? Mowz has your back (depending on where you're located). The start-up has targeted the chore many of use dislike, allowing you to order lawn service from the comfort of your smartphone.

The startup, which is currently only servicing those located near Syracuse, New York, works with licensed landscapers who will be tasked with the physical job of mowing your lawn. Their services are commissioned in a way similar to how driving service Uber works.

Users download the app (available for iOS and Android) and enter their information, including a credit card for payment and the size of the lawn they want mowed. Based on the size provided and perhaps when you want it done, the service returns a quote.

The average price is $35, though it depends on the lawn's size. Once the quote is accepted, landscapers will be dispatched around the time you requested, will show up and mow your lawn, send you a picture of their work, and your card will be charged for their service.

SOURCE: Digital Trends

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Mowz startup lets you get your lawn mowed via your smartphone

Sophomore television arts major Frank Licka died Tuesday, June 17 after a riding lawn mower accident at his work.

Licka was mowing grass for the Frankfort Square Park District before bystanders found him collapsed next to the lawn mower Tuesday afternoon.

He was transported to Franciscan St. James hospital in Olympia Fields. An autopsy determined his death was caused by multiple injuries suffered in a lawn mower accident.

Tinley Park police said it was unclear whether the lawn mower tipped or rolled over, but they are investigating the accident. The lawn mower was upright when police arrived at the scene.

Other workers were mowing grass in the area, but authorities were not sure if anyone was near him at the time of the accident.

Frankfort Square Park District Director Jim Randall released a statement on Tuesday about Lickas death.

Frank Licka was a valued employee of the Frankfort Square Park District and a dear friend and colleague to many, the release stated. Frank worked for our agency during his high school summer years and, most recently, as a college student.

Licka had just completed his freshman year at Bradley, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and the Ballroom Dancing Club.

To honor Lickas memory, flags on campus flew at half-staff for three days.

Services for Licka were held Sunday, June 22 at the Kurtz Memorial Chapel in Frankfort, Illinois.

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Student dies after lawn mower accident

BAY CITY, MI A 61-year-old Bay City man is facing a criminal charge after neighbors complained to police that they saw him mowing his lawn while completely naked.

About 6:51 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, police responded to Bobby O. Blodgett's home in the 300 block of McDonald Street in the city's Banks District after someone called 911 to report he was mowing his lawn naked. The caller, 40-year-old Jason S. Linton, told dispatchers he yelled at Blodgett to put some clothes on, and that Blodgett had done so, police reports show.

Linton told a responding officer that he and his teenage son were visiting his mother-in-law in the neighborhood and that they were in her back yard when they heard a lawnmower start up.

"Then the guy came walking out and started cutting his lawn in the nude," Linton said. "I yelled at him and told him that he needed to put some clothing on."

Linton said that though there is a privacy fence separating the yards, there are gaps in it that one can see through.

Linton's mother-in-law, Nancy M. Mercier, told the officer that a similar incident happened the week beforehand when Blodgett mowed his lawn wearing only lady's stockings.

"I don't need to see that," Mercier said. "I know he has a privacy fence but I can see through it."

The officer spoke with Blodgett, who maintained Linton and Mercier were mistaken regarding what they claimed to have seen.

"I was out in the back yard today mowing my lawn in my bikini briefs," he said, according to police reports. "I had on my underwear. I made a mistake. I was not naked. It won't happen again. I was never naked."

The officer did not arrest Blodgett, but told him a report would be sent to the Bay County Prosecutor's Office for review. The officer also advised him to dress appropriately when in his yard.

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Police: Bay City man mowed lawn in the nude, charged with misdemeanor