Winter brings more use of fireplaces and wood burning stoves. Weiser Fire Chief, Kerry Nyce asked me to share the following information to help protect against chimney fires this winter.
Chimney fires are often caused by burning wood that is too green and heavy induced with pitch and tightening the air dampers down too tight which causes creosote build up in the chimney. Creosote is the unburied particles that solidify in the chimneys. The creosote causes the diameter of the chimney to get smaller, much like the narrowing of arteries in the body. These fires can go from not serious to the total loss of a home.
You may hear what sounds like a train entering or jet plane landing on your house. If so, go outside and look at your chimney, the flame will be like an after burner on a fighter jet. The smoke may not be venting properly and the Fire may not want to free burn. If you think you have a chimney fire, call 911, get out and stay out of the house until the Fire Department arrives and investigates your situation. Some people purchase chimney fire extinguishers but you should
still call the Department to inspect your stove, chimneys, pipe or brick.
To help prevent chimney fires, burn good hard firewood and adjust your dampers appropriately.
Another reminder: when shopping, getting a haircut or running in to pay a bill, remember to turn your vehicle off. Gas fumes entering businesses while the vehicle idles outside the doorways can cause serious health problems during winter inversions. The time it takes to do the business is minimal compared to the discomfort to others.
The Idaho Housing and Financing Association put out the 2016 Community Report and it has some interesting statistics about Idaho housing. The average age of homeowners is 37 years old and the average family size is 2.6. The average borrower income is $47,236 and the average down payment is $4,703. The number of new loans financed in Idaho in 2016 was
7,813 totally $1.1 billion. Interesting information. We have seen an increase in building in our area too.i thought these statistics might be interesting as we begin a new year.
A new outdoor opportunity opened for winter recreationists this year. The Rolling Hills Golf Course has groomed a cross country trail around the course. The cost is $5 for daily unlimited trail use. Snowshoes may also be a possibility. The course has lots of room as long as skiers stay off the greens. Get some exercise and stop in for a cup of hot chocolate or another beverage.
Have a Happy New Year in 2017. Please remember if you will be celebrating this week and choose to enjoy an adult beverage, do not drink and drive. Be sure to have a designated driver who will stay responsible and get everyone home safely. “See you next year.”

This has been another wonderful week of Christmas activities from the Youth Symphony to the Extravaganza to the Living Nativity to Christmas Programs at the schools and churches. Christmas in Weiser is special. Be sure to take time to drive carefully around town to look at the beauty of the Christmas lights. The lights of Christmas are special.
Snow removal continues on the streets. The crews are planning to send a truck ahead with a speaker this week as they work down side streets to get some of the snow off. Drive carefully on the side streets where plows have not been down. A reminder to the good Samaritans plowing your driveways and sidewalks and those of your neighbors, please do not plow or throw snow into the streets. It makes berms in the middle of the streets and along with the ruts it makes it more difficult for small vehicles to get down the streets.
Home owners and businesses should keep snow on their own property. Many assume it is best to put it in the streets so it will get plowed the next time the City comes through but in the meantime the snow freezes and creates difficulties for the drivers. Please do not pile snow in locations that restrict vision or creates a danger to pedestrians.
I know there seem to be a lot of don’ts but we have been blessed the last four years with little snow issues and some people may have forgotten some of the normal procedures to follow. The City is trying to keep up and provide safe transportation on our main streets. The priorities are shown on the map on the City website and sometimes the locations that have lowest priority don’t get done due to the ongoing need to keep going over the number one priority streets due to the storm systems coming through our area. More storms are predicted so be prepared.
Remember to keep a small stream of water running in your house to keep pipes from freezing up. Close garage doors and windows on porches where pipes may be exposed. If you have elderly or disabled neighbors, please take time to stay in contact with them particularly during the winter season.
City offices will close at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23 and will be closed all day December 26. If you need to make a payment, it can be placed in the drop off box across from City Hall or brought to the office December 27. The office will also be closed on Monday, January 2 and will open at 8:00 a.m. on January 3.
Another new year is upon us and it has the potential of being another great year. Remember to enjoy the New Year and its celebrations, but please be responsible and don’t drink and drive. Use a designated driver if you will be going out to celebrate.
In an article I was reading recently, I was reminded of a real truth. It asked, “what are you going to find at Christmas and in the New Year?” The answer given was, “I’ll tell you what you’re going to find: you’ll find what you’re looking for.” Don’t forget the Christmas Dinner put on by the C.O.P.s at the Senior/ Community Center on Christmas Day, a great time of good food and fellowship. Thanks to these folks for caring for our community.
I am looking forward to a good year with lots of new blessings and I pray the same for you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Winter hit us hard this last week.  Two heavy days of snow had our street crew hustling to clear our main streets for travel.  Along with our Street/Park crew we had men from the other departments driving trucks and front end loaders to help clear the snow away.
 I took the opportunity on Saturday morning about 8 a.m. to drive around with Pat Malay to look at what had been done and what needed to be done.  We had already had two days of heavy snow and the crews had been working for those two days beginning at midnight each night to open the main priority streets and were having to do then again as well as sand the hills and intersections.  After the roads are plowed, the crews follow with the front-end loaders opening up the driveways and cleaning up the corners. It takes time for them to catch up with the plow so if your driveway gets plowed in, please be patient as the rest of the crew makes its way down the street clearing the driveways.  If at all possible, use off street parking during this weather so your vehicles don’t get plowed in. 
There are residents living on the side streets wondering why we don’t get their streets done faster and more often. If you live on one of these streets particularly on the west side, take a minute to look down your street and see how narrow and crowded they are.  I was amazed in looking down W. Liberty and W. Court Streets at how many cars, trucks and trailers are parked along the streets.  Some of the vehicles are parked quite a distance from the curb, some parked going the wrong direction and some with their tail ends almost in the middle of the street.  There was no way to plow some streets and even on the streets with room, the cars would have had snow up to their roofs. 
Our crews had people stand in the middle of the road complaining about the way their vehicles got plowed in or had people stand on the sidewalk glaring at them or worse swearing at them for plowing in their space. The crews have been working as quickly as they can to get the streets cleared before the melting and freezing cause slicker surfaces.  With a limited crew and equipment, I appreciate the work they do and the time they take from family activities to provide service to our residents. The weatherman is predicting more snow this week so the crews will be out again as quickly as possible.  Please be patient as we work as quickly as we can. 
Freezing weather is expected over the next week so remember to leave a small stream of water running to prevent pipes from freezing up particularly in exposed pipe areas.  If you do have frozen pipes, contact someone to help thaw them in a safe manner.  Unfortunately, house fires have been started by residents thawing out their pipes.  Be safe in this weather.  If you have neighbors or family that need help, get that shovel out or call a scout troop or church for help.
There are more Christmas activities this weekend, check the coming events and get out to enjoy the season.  Drive carefully and walk softly.

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to present Keith Bryant with a Mayor’s Coin in recognition of his ambassadorship of the City of Weiser.  Keith has been an ongoing supporter of our community through his business, Weiser Classic Candy, along with his business partner, Patrick Nauman, as well as on his own.  He has been the driving force in our area Crime Stoppers for the last several years. He along with Angela Girvin has been working with families who have been burned out to find help and walk through the necessary steps to come back from the loss of their homes and possessions.  Keith teaches cooking classes, has helped the City in evaluating needs for the Vendome and works with the Clary/Slyter family in providing the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. I had wanted to recognize Keith at the Weiser Chamber Awards but he was unable to attend so please take time to say thanks to Keith for all he does for our community.
The weather is a-changing.  This past week the annual snow removal meeting was held.  This is the meeting that Pat Malay, our Street/Parks Department holds each year to go over safety and procedures related to snow removal throughout the City.  The Street Department itself has six employees so it takes workers from the other departments to help with plowing and removal of snow.  There are several new members in our departments so there will be some additional training needed this year particularly if we have heavy snow fall.
There is a priority list of streets that determine the order of plowing.  The map can be found on the City web page.  The main streets, of course, get hit first.  The streets to the hospital, local government, downtown businesses and schools are first priority. If you plow or shovel your driveways, please do not put the snow on the street as it makes humps and creates difficulty for others traveling or parking on the side streets.  If you have off street parking, please use it during the winter weather to allow plowing and to make it safer for those traveling the narrower streets.  Also, please do not park trailers and winter recreation vehicles on the streets. No parking is allowed downtown from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. to allow the downtown area to be maintained in winter.
It is our intent to safely remove the snow and sand from the City streets with minimal cost and as soon as possible after the storm.  However, the equipment needs to have an accumulation of snow to work effectively without damage to the plowing equipment.  The crew tries to get out quickly to sand hills and major corners when snow falls or frost is present. We appreciate your patience and understanding in winter weather.  Remember to adjust your driving and walking during the winter weather as well.
The Annual C.O.P. Christmas Dinner is coming up on December 25, Christmas Day from 12:00-2:30 p.m. The dinner is held at the Weiser Senior Community Center and is free.  Donations are accepted.  Don’t sit home alone on Christmas, come down and enjoy another great meal.
The Weiser Architectural Preservation Committee is having the Christmas Tour of Homes on Saturday, December 17 from 4-7 p.m. The tour will include seven beautiful homes in the Valley View Subdivision.  Tickets are available at the Weiser Public Library or from Dorothy Evans at 549-5589.  Another Weiser Christmas tradition.  Still lots of time to enjoy Christmas activities in Weiser.