the Pit Stop: Oil Change

Need your Oil Changed?

These folks are curtios, the go above and beyond to make sure my needs are met and that all my questions are answered. They are extremely fair in pricing and do not push unnecessary product. They have high integrity and make you feel like you matter and you have a voice. And even if you act like a dingbat (it could happen) they make you feel good and treat you right.

I am in no way affiliated with this business,
or any business on this Blog really.
(of course except for Ten Lakes Realty ~ Duh..)

Anyway, I highly recommend these folks for oil
changes, and auto maintenance.

Newspapers are Old News

Newspapers are so Yesteryear

Newspapers are Archaic

Why buy a newspaper? It couldn't be for the news, because by the time the news paper comes out the news is old news. National news, global news, and business news can be seen online within the hour or a few hours. If you are looking for local news, then by the time the paper comes out, a week or more after the event happens ~ the rumor mill has already filled me in, and most of the time with more accuracy.

Newspapers use resources, cost money to print, cost money to do layout and research, cost money to deliver and to turn your hands black. For me, online news is the way to go. Getting your news online gives you much more diversity, and therefore accuracy because you can research several sites on the same news posting. Online news is interactive, does not waste paper, cost nothing to deliver, does not turn your hands black, and you don't need to throw it away.

However, I do buy newspapers for use with my pets.

Eureka Montana Real Estate

Spring is here, the birds are singing their beautiful songs. The waterways are opening and the fishing are jumping, well where the ice is all gone anyway. The deepest part of winter days are gone for this season. Builders are happy and construction is bursting out of its seems to get going at a faster summertime rate. Eureka Real Estate is picking up and Ready for you to get your piece of the Big Skies of Montana. Montana Real Estate is investing in a way of life that will you will give your family forever. The greatest gift you can give your children is to expose them to the wilderness, and show them what life on Earth is really about, in hopes they will hold this in their hearts as a safe place to go when life comes crowding in. Welcome to Montana.

www.TenLakesRealty.com
a Northwest Montana Native working for you
with honesty and integrity.

Eureka Montana Real Estate

Montana Sky: Internet Service

I have given Montana Sky a very honest try. The thing is, that when I call tech support they talk down to me and treat me like I don’t have a brain in my head. When I call, they act like I am irritating them with my simple, ignorant questions.

Believe me I have quit Interbel because of what Montana Sky folks told me Interbel did to trip me up. I am not affiliated with Interbel and they can tell you we have not always been friends. This BLOG entry is fact, and has been confirmed by others who have had the same experience.

People ask me who I am with, when I say Interbel they say “oh I have heard bad things about them” and I say, I have also, but than again I have heard bad about Montana Sky as well and I can tell you that at least with Interbel, they treat you with dignity and respect whether they like or know you on a personal level or not. The Internet speeds are faster and cheaper. I have the gamer pack for $39 a month, and get speeds averaging 1300kbps or 1.3 mbps, which is the fastest I have got in the Tobacco Valley. I have a friend who pays $32 at Montana Sky and gets an average of 300kbps, this is 4 times less speed for almost the same price. When I got to help these folks with computer stuff, I pull my hair out waiting for the Internet.


I have been told that Montana Sky simply resells a service that Interbel gets and they have to cooperate because of fair trade. So, our lifetime paying into a Cooperative that is keeping up with technology the best they can, giving rebates for those 30 year plus customers from way back when, creating new inexpensive phone lines every season and are the reason we have phones in rural Eureka. And than one day a newcomber comes in and lays claim to the lines we have paid for, the labor we have paid for and jumps up on the back of Interbel, which we the people own. And use this leverage to line their own pocketbooks and in the meantime treat me badly every single time I call tech support.

Montana Sky seems to be a bit stern on billing, sending too many emails way ahead of time and pressuring people to pay months ahead.

Sometimes they just shut you off, nothing to do with whether the bill is paid. You just simply do not have Internet service, you call tech support and first act like its your fault, spend days working on the issue, when come to find out They had Just Simply shut off your service with them.

Oh and you had better not think of moving from one house to the other, even if you do have the same phone number. I did this last spring and was chewed out like they thought they were my parents or something. I had never got any kind of information that said I had to call them before I moved houses. I found this to be harsh treatment and should have quit them than. But I took more abuse last summer from tech support and Internet speeds before I finally decided to switch back to Interbel after my service was down for 2 days and I could not get any help. Interbel is very considerate of my business, they do all they can to make sure I am not out of service for extended times, even if they work late on a Friday to do it. This is not a commercial for Interbel, it is the Truth according to my experience, ask around, find your own information and see if it compares.

Happy Internetting Folks…

First Interstate Bank

Over the years it has been an interesting experience with the first Interstate bank in Eureka I find that the first interstate bank has a lot of turnover, the tellers come and go. I find this alarming, being in a small town it means that everybody knows your business, everybody knows your banking habits and other pertinent information about you. I'm not sure why these gals come and go, I can only suppose it is because they're not happy there or are not getting paid enough. There is a gal who works there now, that I cringe at the fact of her knowing anything about my financial abilities. I have heard folks in town say that they know people who had jobs at the bank and who would look up accounts for them on other people, to see what balance they kept.

I find it better to work with banks in whitefish or Kalispell. Therefore the whole town does not know your business. The gals at the bank acted like they are professional and will never discuss your business. But I am not sure that is true. I completely trust, one person at the first interstate bank in Eureka and wish I could do all of my banking with this one person. But that is not how it goes, you have to take the teller that comes up next. Most of the time I wait for the teller that I want.

There is no anonymity in Eureka Montana. If you are moving here, you had better start a bank account in Kalispell or whitefish for bank online. If you do not want the whole town to know your financial status. Also a note, you will get a loan or not get a loan. Based on who you are and who you know. You may not believe this, if not, do your own investigation and you will find. It is true more often than not.

Do I bank at the First Interstate. Yes I do, convience being of high importance to me. However, I do wait for the teller I want. And just pretend everybody does not know every move I make.

Whitefish Credit Union

I have found but the best loans, and easiest loans. I have seen go through our with the whitefish credit Union. My best experiences have been with Ray Fauth at the whitefish credit Union in whitefish. I have worked with other folks and have not had as good of results. I have had clients go to ray, and get loans quicker and easier. Then when they go to the office in downtown Eureka. It seems like the Eureka office is not as efficient at getting loans through. The gals at the whitefish credit Union in Eureka Montana are nice enough to most folks, however, I do not feel comfortable going in there, I just don't think I will be treated equally and fairly as I would if I went into the office in Whitefish Montana.

Faye's Donuts

Another great business that used to be in Eureka

I always loved the donuts at Faye's donut shop in downtown Eureka. It was always so comforting to go in to that shop and smell the donuts freshly made in Faye was always so pleasant, going in to this donut shop, always made me feel like Eureka was home to me.

Thanks Faye

the Cellar Shop

Business that used to Be in Eureka

The Celler shop used to be in the building where heavens peak health food storenow is. This was the five and dime store, with games, some close, trinkets, yarns, and more. The Locke family owns a store and the building. I always remember the store is being a fun place to go. When I was a kid. I always remember Mrs. Locke, she was always very nice to me and always made me feel good about myself. I just wanted to note in this blog, my respect and rememberance of the Locke Family and the Cellar Shop. Thank You to the Locke family for having this store and making a place to remember. Eureka should never forget the Locke's and their contribution to this valley.

JBs market; Steins

I would have to say that the new ownership has made some improvements, such as some product changes,and the overall moral of the staff. The isles are in transition with the product moved but the isles signs not yet changed.

Stein's market could use more organic items for me. I do go to Stein's, because I liked the space in the aisles. I must confess I do 95% of my grocery shopping in Kalispell, as I am sure a large portion of Eureka does. I also shop for organics at heavens peak health food store.

I do hope that everything works out for the folks at Stein. I was there a couple weeks ago my cream cheese was left out of my day, I called immediately and the girl ask. The gals who had checked me out and they said there was no cream cheese left on the counter. Therefore, I was made to feel as if I was lying, I have the receipt that I paid for the cream cheese. It's not in my bag, the gal on the phone made me feel like I was lying. I suppose a lot of people get home and eat the cream cheese, and then Call in saying it was not in the bag so they can get another one.

I understand this. But the fact is that I did not get my cream cheese and either went in someone else's bag or back on the shelf. The manager came to the phone, and after I said, who I was and put a face to the name, she said to come down with my receipt and get my cream cheese, I felt like I was the one who did something wrong. When I first called, I was very nice, I was not blaming, I simply wanted to tell them right away that the cream cheese was missing. I still have not got the cream cheese, I just let it go. My point to this story is that, this store must've been taken advantage of a lot, and therefore is very mistrusting, so make sure that all of your items are in your bag before you leave the store, the old days of trusting people when they call and say it's not my bag are over.

I have heard people say that they love the new products is Stein. That's wonderful, but for me, I find no organic drinks, I find no organic produce, no organic snacks and for me personally, I need a healthier variety, so unless I am out of chocolate soy milk, there is nothing else I can get at Stein.

The gals and guys at Steins are very nice, but I just cannot find the product I want, healthy choices, awesome ice cream... things like that....

UPDATE Spring 08 - the new Steins will have an Organic Produce section for now you can special Order Organics at Steins, fresh Wonderful Organic Produce..

EMT; First Response

Eureka Montana has a very good first response team at the present time. I have witnessed to recent events, where Mrs. Bernhard has been the EMT first response on a scene. And I find her to be very efficient, very considerate, extremely knowledgeable on, and she does not let anybody intimidate her or lose control of the room. She is assertive, call mean, and I am comforted to know that she's out there. The last scene I was asked the Eureka Ambulance was there very quickly. I do feel that Eureka takes its emergency response team seriously. However, a few years back. I passed a car, and in my rearview near. I saw dust fly in the car flipped around, it had hit a deer in the dear busted windshield in on them. The first response to this scene was a truck from a local utility company, the young man had taken some emergency response training, and felt she knew just what to do, he went up to the passenger, who had glass embedded in their face and said let's get the glass out, I could not help myself, I said absolutely not, we must wait until the ambience gets here and just keep everything as it is and remain calm. I had tried to comfort the woman, and talk down the boy, for the little bit of training I have had, which is not much, I knew that if glass is embedded in someone's space. You should not attempt to pull it out. I left the scene worried that if this accident had been me, I was not impressed with the first response team, nor the ambulance service this particular day. However, today I do have a certain level of confidence in the recent scenes I have witnessed. So, be safe out there folks, and no that the Eureka and ambulance service has your back.

Also a Note, and more in a later post, the CanAm Rescue Team is very competent, quick and thorough to come to the aid of those lost or injured in the backcountry of Northwest Montana.

Award Winning Businesses

my Award anyway. The 2 Top businesses in Eureka for consistency, honor, integrity, fairness and giving back to the community are NAPA and the Big Sky Exxon. These 2 businesses should get a lifetime acheivement award or something. They are very well established businesses in our area. I am always greeted with a smile, treated with respect, never made to feel like I don't know what I am talking about (even when I don't), always fair prices and timely service, and they folks they have hired through the years carry those ethics out, they have enough respect and pride for the owners that they act like the owner would want them too. This is the kind of respect you earn ~ Thanks Ernie and the Temple Family. We Love You.

and You new Folks, know that when you come to town, show your respect at these businesses, it is a guarantee that they deserve it. If you don't want to take my word for it, ask anyone.

Catalog in the Mail

ENOUGH ALREADY. I must get thousands of unsolicited catalogs in the mail a year. With the Internet, is there really a need for all the labor, money, time and waste to send out zillions of catalogs that people throw away. I swear, the local Post Office should put a giant dumpster outside for us to put them in, we fill the ones up at the post office in nothing flat and its not even Christmas. No more catalogs, the internet is so much cleaner and does not require huge amounts of money and man hours for printing, shipping, mailmen, garbage disposal and other associated costs with catalogs. Some I get several of the same catalog every week. I can't keep up with it. Online Marketing Folks, its the way to go.

Eureka Montana Town Tour

Well on today's tour we noticed that most of the homes in Eureka are a pastel in color and lots of Eureka homes and yards are run down. Pastel is so out folks.

And the Old Locke House, Deep Torquoise is out too.

Idea: Maybe we should start a Pride of Ownership fund to help people

update the colors and yards of these homes.

Eureka Dentists

I guess we only have one now. Dr. Mintz has retired I believe. Dr. Daniels is supposedly moving into the Big E's and Vicki's Country diner building. However, this makeover seems to have taken years now. His old location is really looking run down and bad. Some folks like Dr. Daniels, If you are one of those folks ~ please comment on this blog.

As Far as my opinion goes, I went to him years ago and found his bedside manner quite lacking, I did not thinking he listened to my needs and rather did what he saw fit. I think at that time he saw me as someone with not enough income to know what I wanted done in my mouth, if you don't have the money to pay than you certainly do not know what is best.

Last summer a gal that went there was given a very high priced partial, you could get titanium implants for the price he charged and they hurt her mouth, were not fitted good and she has no rights because she does not have the income that is perceived to give her rights.

And than about 10 years later they sent me a 30 or 40 dollar bill and demanded I pay, apparantley they over looked something a decade before. I paid it, I felt maybe they were behind on their mortgage payments and did this to a few people to get the payment made.

Again if you like this Dentist: Set the Record straight and post a comment

local Builders and Contracts

my First Blog on this will be to ask a Question ? can Anyone comment on reputable contractors in our area that treat all people equal, built a quality product, follow state codes, build with the proper snowload specs (that changed recently), take MOLD into consideration when they build, such as the homes going up in winter and wet weather that do not do DEEP moisture readings in the walls before closing them with drywall. I have heard endless accounts of contractors in very bad light. If anyone has had GOOD experiences please let me know.

Know Your Rights Folks

Learn the Laws and Do Not hide in the shadows

if you have been lied to, mistreated,

or thieved in any way.

Law Tips
www.MontanaRealEstateConsultant.info

There is no building inspection in Eureka Montana
and no building codes enforced. You do not
have to have engineered plans.
So Buyer be AWARE...

Historical Eureka Homes

there are some Old homes in Eureka that have lots of character. and Some of them have been kept up very well over the years. it is Sad to see homes like the Pruett home, the big white house you can see from Montana Market, where for as long as I can remember Libby Pruett and her family had this place immaculate and it was the Pride of Eureka, and now the yard is thrashed and it never looks kept up or loved. I would hate to see what has happened inside the beautiful, Graceful old home. bless you Libby Pruett, wherever you are.

the Frontier Bar

Frontier Bar, Rexford Montana

Though I do not like smoke. I love their food. It is approximately 85% consistently really good. I am glad they are their and provide a consistency. They are friendly and I have never had a stomach ache from eating there.

Lake Koocanusa Arena

Lake Koocanusa Arena

www.LKarena.com

More Coming Soon !!

Four Corners Cafe'

Four Corners café

Love the new Smoke Free addition.
It has a nice feeling, soft tones,
great decorating and ambience.
this Restaurant has a great Location,
lots of parking, you can fit your big rig, if you
are travel Montana through Eureka and have a camper,
boat, or are towing anything; this it the place to eat
and comfortable park.

I have traveled around with a camper in tow
and this information is very important.

the Food :

I went there for dinner awhile back, I had heard the menu changed and that there was non-smoking dining. The food was good and the service was good. The next week I took a friend there for lunch. We waited an hour for our lunch and the food gave me a bad stomach ache. So I guess it is hit or miss. Owning and running a restaurant in Lincoln County is not easy. I am glad they are there, however.

had lunch on another occasion and the food was good, not sure if they use MSG or not. but the service and food was good this particular day, it was 3 in the afternoon and obviously a good time of day for there were not many customers and we were served fast.

the Staff: for the most part very
friendly, kind and competent.

If you want elbow room, ambience of sorts,
cleanliness and great tasting water there
is really only one restaurant in town and that Four Corners.

Please Feel Free to Post your experiences to give people and overall view of the experiences with this restaurant. How was the Food ? Is it Consistent ? are Your treated fairly and respectful ? Is the Staff Friendly and Courteous ? Let hear it !!!

Silverado Hotel, Casino and Golf

Silverado Lounge, Hotel, Golf Course, and RV

This business looks good and is kept up outside.

It looks nice and does not show

real signs of being rundown.

the Silverado seems to have pride of ownership.

There is paved parking, awesome Mountain Views,
green grass is so nice when traveling.
This is a Clean and Welcoming Establishment.

Check it Out.

The Staff: for the most part I am always

greeted by name and with a smile.
I am not treated inferior or disrespectful

and always made to feel welcome.
this is an Important

Note, It is the Only bar in Eureka I can say this about.

Silverado has an RV park, and from what I have heard
the Internet works well from within your RV with
wireless Internet Access.

the Silverado is a necessary stop if you have a big rig,
camper in tow, or are pulling a trailer of any kind.
if You need a Hotel or a Drink and a Break from the Road

than know that the Silverado parking area

is parking friendly for larger vehicles.

I have driven cross country with a camper in tow and

know the importance of being able to park.

It is so stressful driving through a town and

not knowing where to go. when I would call folks ahead,

most would say SURE we have plenty of parking",

most obviously had no idea the kind of space needed

to turn around a camper and a full size double cab truck.

If you come into Eureka from Libby or

From British Columbia
your Stops are the Silverado, the Ranch hand

and for food Four Corners restaurant.

other wise you will hit downtown and say NO WAY

and end up driving to Whitefish before your break.

so Know ahead where you can easily park you entourage.

the Ranch Hand

THE RANCH HAND

Isn't the Ranch Hand Makeover nice.

the Colors are so Montana, a nice gentle Moss Green

the Pavement and Parking is awesome.

I would like to compliment the Ranch Hand

on their new building.

It adds class to the community and gives people passing through a sense that we are a community who cares about the appearance of our buildings.

Thank You ranch hand.

Staff: friendly mostly, it is hit or miss though.

Women and Business

recent Report

Some Interesting Facts About Entrepreneurship
According to BusinessWeek women are half as likely to start their own company as men; however, their numbers are on the rise.
Immigrants form the fastest population of new business owners. Since traditional methods of finding a job are unavailable to many immigrants, they tend to leverage the existing networks available to them to either form a new business or become a part of an existing one.
Entrepreneurship has a major impact on job creation in the United States with approximately 60-80% of all new jobs burgeoning from small businesses.

Highway 93 Issues

Question: Why does the Highway department or whoever makes the call for them, say that downtown eureka cannot dig up the highway to protect their economic development. Meaning, why can't the businesses downtown dig up the highway and fix the sewer pipes to save their buildings. Sewage flows into downtown business a

nd the Highway Department says???

the Sewage system in Eureka has been an issue for years, many folks complain and it seems like the Town of Eureka either does not have the knowledge or the money or both, to fix the problems that come up. there Has to be a way to fix the sewage system once and for all. rates Seem to go up but quality does not.

Pothole Watch; Worst Roads

and the Winner is the road that goes by the low income housing. my Grandmother lived there until her passing in 1989, the roads were very bad than and are very bad now. I would have to say out of all the side streets in Eureka Montana this is the worst. i don't know if the budget is not available or the roads that do get fixed are by the houses of the people who make the most noise or have the most money. Not Sure. I do that Eureka streets are a mess, the sidewalks are broken and buckled and there are lots of potholes. I know the city has money concerns, however ~ they have money when they get sued over septic issues.

The budget should have money in it to first consider

how our town looks to those who drive through.

If we seem like a town without money or concern

for how we look than the folks that move in will

see us in distress and try and help us with

money and ideas, we will take offense at this help,

as towns do when the money comes in.

Lets take care of how our Town looks now.

and Not wait to be rescued by the tax payers

moving in or the ideas that come with that.

ideas That our Proud Town

will most likely reject.

This is all Just my Opinion,

but Of course, thats what a Blog is right.

Eureka Montana

Hello and Welcome to the Tobacco Valley
in Northwest MontanaWelcome to the British Columbia and Alberta Folks,

Welcome to the California Folks, all Those searching

on the net for information on our area and town and

a Special Welcome to the Locals of Eureka Montana.

our Blog will explore Eureka Businesses,

we Will list businesses as a directory online,

we will review restaurants and stores,

we will tell you the good and the bad,

from our perspective and point of view.

we Invite you to comment, if you have had a similar

or different experience with any certain business

or individual. we wish to show you what it would

be like to live here as well as provide the

community with an online place to see whats

going on with local businesses.

my Opinion is just that, Opinion

It is not fact on fact,

it is based on my perception, my treatment,

the rumors and information I have received.

Please feel Free to Set the Record Straight

Have a Great Northwest Montana Day. !!!