Old Man Winter is knocking at the door. And time is running out. Snow tires and preparing your house for freezing temperatures, if you have not done it already, is imperative to prevent costly repairs. Here are some basic tips and ideas to prepare.

The city of HR will be blowing smoke this week. Right in the old sewer pipes. They will be looking for defects and smoke helps detect them. It’s set to occur on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 12 & 13. Take a look at the map. Maybe they're blowing smoke in your neighborhood. Oh, and you might notice an odor.