On Tuesday, some Longview businesses received honors from the Longview Chamber of Commerce.

Last week we talked about the importance of reading the pesticide label every time prior to using a product around your home or farm. Pesticides are essential tools for many aspects of home and farm ownership, but they need to be treated with respect. Sometimes, because of our haste and familiarity when using a chemical product, we let down our guard. This is when trouble can strike. This week we will wrap up our tour of the pesticide label and the vital information it contains.

With the National Association of Realtors’ reporting current pending home sales down 21.4 percent from the first quarter of 2007, and Standard & Poor’s citing the steepest decline in home values in the 20-year history of its housing index, many homeowners are now choosing to remodel their current home rather than selling in an effort to hold home values in the turbulent U.S. housing market. To execute the strategy successfully, most projects require professional help and the Better Business Bureau is offering advice and guidance on finding trustworthy contractors who can help make the strategy pay off.