TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 | FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM | SECTION B
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MOTORING
CUSTOMER INTERACTION IS THE BEST PART PEBBLE LAKE AUTO STAFF PRIDES ITSELF ON SERVICE By Tim Engstrom tim.engstrom@fergusfallsjournal.com
Adam and Ben Formo are brothers who work at Pebble Lake Auto. People typically see them when walking in the front door. Both reside in Fergus Falls. Adam is 35. Ben is 28. Adam is the service manager, while Ben is the service adviser. Pebble Lake Auto is at 3100 Pebble Lake Road on the south side of Fergus Falls. We sat down with each of them. Here are Adam’s responses:
Q: What interests you about automobiles? The constant evolution of automotive technology.
Q: What is your favorite car make and model? It’s hard to pick just one. But I’ve always loved the Shelby Cobra.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
Adam Formo, left, and Ben Formo greet customers at Pebble Lake Auto, 3100 Pebble Lake Road, in Fergus Falls. TIM ENGSTROM/DAILY JOURNAL
Customer interaction and working with a great team.
Q: Where did you grow up?
Q: Have you always wanted to work with automobiles? Why or why not? I think so. I’ve Adam always enjoyed it Formo and been around mechanic work my whole life.
Q: What is your favorite memory working with automobiles? Sitting in the engine compartment of Dad’s old pickup as a kid, pulling cylinder heads.
Fergus Falls.
Q: What are your hobbies? Hunting, fishing, running, cycling and coaching.
Q: What is your favorite food? Spaghetti.
Q: What is your favorite movie? “The Shawshank Redemption.”
Q: What is one interesting fact about you? I’m obsessed with sports and have watched more ESPN than any other program.
Here are Ben’s responses: Q: Have you always wanted Q: What interests you about to work with automobiles? automobiles? Why or why not? A. It interests me how the technology and performances of vehicles have improved over the last 100 years.
Q: What is your favorite car make and model? A. I can’t pick a favorite. The coolest car I ever drove was a 1929 Ford Model A.
Q: What do you like most about your job? A. Helping people keep their vehicles safe and properly maintained.
A. Yes, I have been fascinated with them since I was a kid.
Q: What is your favorite memory working with automobiles? A. Any time, I think back about working on my dad’s 69 Cutlass Convertible.
Q: Where did you grow up? A. Fergus Falls.
Q: What are your hobbies? A. Camping, hunting and anything outdoors. I also like to watch any kind of combat sports, and, of course, watching
the Vikings.
Q: What is your favorite food? A. Pizza.
Q: What is your favorite movie? A. Any James Bond movie.
Q: What is one interesting fact about you?
Ben Formo
A. I have completed the “Blazin’ Challege” at Buffalo Wild Wings three times. (It calls for eating a dozen Blazin’ wings in six minutes or less.)
Price tag cut in half for passenger rail to Duluth
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is shaping its five-year plan for roads in Greater Minnesota.
Public input sought to help update the transit plan for Greater Minnesota ST. PAUL — The public is invited to help shape the future of transit in Greater Minnesota by sharing ideas with the Minnesota Department of Transportation as it refines investment priorities and strategic direction for the 2016 Greater Minnesota Transit Investment Plan. The goal of the five-year plan is to improve mobility for the general public with emphasis on senior citizens, people with low incomes, people who are homeless, individuals with disabilities, veterans, new Americans and commuters. “We want to meet the mobility needs of the people of Minnesota,” said MnDOT Commissioner
Charlie Zelle. “This plan will help MnDOT improve transit service coverage and make public transit a viable choice for transportation in Greater Minnesota.” The public can use an online wikimap tool to tag their travel origins and destinations. The map will help MnDOT understand how people cross boundaries throughout their travel and help support seamless transit systems. The interactive tool is online at www.mndot.gov/transitinvestment. A version of the tool for screenreader users is at Destination Survey. Another opportunity to provide input is through a short online
survey. The survey will ask users what their priorities and preferences are for transit use at www.dot.state.mn.us/transitinvestment/participation.html. The survey is available in English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish. Results from this survey will directly affect the plan’s strategic vision and investment priorities. Both transit users and non-users are encouraged to use the wikimap tool and online survey. Comments will be taken until June 1, 2016. For more information, go to www.dot.state.mn.us/transitinvestment/ or contact Sara Dunlap at sara.dunlap@state.mn.us.
DULUTH — A project price tag cut nearly in half is the big news coming out of a news conference today with the Minneapolis-Duluth/Superior Passenger Rail Alliance, in conjunction with the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation. Details released for the proposed Northern Lights Express high-speed passenger rail project include preliminary estimates of project implementation and operating costs, preliminary operating schedule, projected ridership, and project benefits. The NLX passenger rail service will operate on 152 miles of an existing BNSF Railway rail corridor between Minneapolis and Duluth on a schedule of four round trips per day at speeds up to 90 miles per hour with an end-to-end travel time of approximately 2 1/2 hours. Projected ridership for the first year of operation, anticipated to be in 2020, is 700,000 to 750,000 trips and increasing up to one million trips in 2040. Current preliminary estimates put operating costs in the range of $17.5 million per year average for the first five years. Revenue from fares is expected to cover most of this cost. The preliminary estimate of the total cost to implement NLX is between $500 million to $600 million. This includes stations, equipment and the necessary track improvements to ensure reliable, daily, high-speed intercity passenger rail service on this route while maintaining a high level of freight train performance. Previous cost estimates approached $1 billion dollars.
Next steps These preliminary project and operating cost estimates will be updated and a final benefit-cost analysis will be prepared upon completion of cost sharing discussions with BNSF. MnDOT is also proceeding with the completion of preliminary engineering, Tier II Environmental Assessment, Financial Plan and Implementation Plan. By early 2017, the NLX Project will be shovel-ready, which means the project will be in position to move into final design and construction. Pending approval of federal funding, NLX Service could begin as early as 2020.
Project impact The construction and operation of NLX will create jobs and result in economic, safety and quality of life benefits by strengthening the region’s intercity connections. NLX will foster economic growth by broadening the labor market and connecting workers to a wider network of employers; increasing investments and station-related development; and enhancing local tourism. The increased economic activity generated by NLX is expected to increase income, sales and property tax revenues to state and local governments in amounts greater than the anticipated operating subsidy. More than $500 million will be realized over 40 years in benefits from safety, environmental sustainability, economic competitiveness, and station area development.
MnDOT uses warm December weather to repair roads, prepare ROCHESTER — Balmy December temperatures and no snow on the ground means that Minnesota Department of Transportation workers switch their attention to other tasks on the road, while they await the next winter storm in southeast Minnesota. Motorists may notice MnDOT work crews in their reflective safety vests and hats out on the roads during this period of mild weather. The warm weather has allowed MnDOT extra time to do crack sealing on the roads, cut trees and brush, repair culverts, touch up some mowing
work and repair road shoulders. “When we experience unseasonable weather like this, we’re able to put our forces out on the roads for maintenance work that will help our highways stay in good shape for a longer period of time,” said Tim Zierden, maintenance superintendent for MnDOT District 6 East. Much of MnDOT’s work is related to repairs needed after the snowstorms in late November. Motorists crashed into guardrails, ditches and fences, so MnDOT maintenance crews are out repairing these areas, while the sign crews are repairing
and replacing signs that were damaged by vehicle crashes. “Snow events often bring crashes that damage guardrails and signs, so we when we catch a break in the weather like this, we can get more repairs and replacements done, which improves safety on the roadways,” said Don Nosbisch, maintenance superintendent for MnDOT District 6 West. Additionally, MnDOT’s mechanics have been busy repairing and fine-tuning any snowplow trucks that experienced mechanical issues during the earlier snow events, so that the plows are ready to go when
snow and ice arrive again. It’s Minnesota. It’s winter. It will. MnDOT maintenance workers are also ready for emergencies. During a fatal crash on Dec. 7 on Interstate 90, MnDOT worked with the Minnesota State Patrol and other emergency responders to establish a detour, while I-90 was closed for approximately five hours during the emergency response and investigation. MnDOT urges motorists to always be attentive, drive with caution, slow down in work zones and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.
PAGE B2 | FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
Collector car market fueled by love, money CHICAGO (TNS) — “For love or money” may be a phrase as old as capitalism, but it acutely applies to the resurgent collector car market, where record-breaking valuations have fueled a hobby best known as a labor of love. “Our bidder registrations are up 20 percent this year,” said Donnie Gould, president of Auctions America. “In years past, we saw a 5 percent gain. There’s an increase in new people enjoying the hobby. With volatility in the stock market and money earning nothing in the bank, enthusiasts are spending their money on cars and enjoying them.” The collector car world was rocked last year when a 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda four-speed convertible, one of only 11 made, fetched a record $3.5 million at a Mecum Auction in Seattle. As exceptional as that Cuda class is — one of finite supply and growing demand — most classic car investments bleed on the balance sheet to reap dividends in happiness.
It’s personal Finding a winner is personal. You may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile, and you may ask yourself, “What’s the investment potential? Does it matter? Where would I store it? How would I maintain it? Am I out of my mind?” These were the questions I considered in the purchase of a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL. I turned to collector Lou Secari, president of Carolina Muscle Cars Inc., at the Auburn Fall Collector Car Weekend in Auburn, Ind., to determine why collectors buy what they buy. Secari’s collection focuses on midcentury American cars and includes a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado, 1953 Corvette, 1967 Pontiac GTO and 1967 Corvette 427. His favorite is the ‘67 Vette. “Some are museum quality, but I prefer the ones I can drive,” Secari said. “They are investments to me. Appreciability is the best part of the hobby. Buy an 80-point car, take it to 90 points, then drive it!” Collectors tend to fall in one of two categories: those who buy because they love cars and those who expect to make a profit. Secari is both. “It has to be a good investment, without a doubt,” Secari said. “But you have to love what you collect. The market for cars is more stable; people feel the collector car market is stable. There are not many investments that appreciate and that you can have fun with too.” As somebody who has bought and sold many cars, what advice would he give to collectors? “Do your research; buy cars that are well-documented,” Secari said. “Look for models less common, more rare, because they create a better investment.”
Next-gen collectors With such a limited supply of muscle cars and rare exotics, analysts question whether the market can continue to grow. A story titled “America’s Once Magical — Now
Mundane — Love Affair With Cars,” posted Sept. 2 in The Washington Post, questions the future of collector cars with the aging of Generations X and Y. It mentions that only half of today’s drivers get their licenses by age 18 and that car culture is “an old guy’s game.” According to Hagerty, 58 percent of the 5 million collector cars in the U.S. are owned by baby boomers with a median age for collector car owners of 56. Boomers prefer to collect muscle cars that hark back to their youth. The same could be said of the next generation. “Look at kids involved in tuner cars — a different type of auto but still a passion,” Gould said. “As they go through life, their businesses become stable, they have a home, more money … we’ll see the next generation of collectors.” It’s no surprise what Gen Xers are starting to collect. The biggest increases in searches on Hagerty’s Valuation Tools Search involve the BMW M3, Acura NSX and Mercedes-Benz 560SL — icons of Gen Xers’ youth. My personal garage includes a 1989 Corvette that first tugged my heart when a buddy’s dad bought one during my freshman year of high school. “In the last two to three years, it’s been Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari and also great American classics,” Gould said. “All the guys who watched “Miami Vice,” with Ferrari Testarossa posters on their walls, are getting serious. They have a house, family and can now go out and get the car they dreamed about as teenagers. There’s a finite number of those cars.” Investment values will shift. Cars that meant a lot to baby boomers — ‘57 Chevys, ‘55 T-Birds and American muscle cars — may have peaked. There will never be a substitute for their style and power, but younger generations will covet the ‘80s and ‘90s cars to which they have emotional attachments.
Expert advice Beyond the emotional attachment, knowing how you plan to use the car will help determine its worth. “Do some research about the car you like,” Gould said. “Know if you want to tour in it or just drive it to the local ice cream. Have support locally to keep the car maintained well.” Even in excellent condition, old cars require constant maintenance to retain their value and remain road-worthy. Seals leak, starters fail to start, fuel pumps quit pumping, paint ages, transmissions need to be rebuilt, engines get overhauled and electrical systems malfunction. And these things will happen on tour in the middle of a rainstorm. Car and Driver contributor Jamie Kitman offers these points: Buy what you like. Buy the best there is. Mechanical repairs are preferable to rust repairs. Buy original. Don’t be cheap. Don’t expect to make money on old cars. Keep it indoors. Make sure all safety equipment works. Drive your car.
TRAVEL
Finding time to travel can be as simple as taking advantage of paid time off from work.
FIND TIME TO TRAVEL IN THE COMING YEAR Travel is something many people love but few have the time to do. While some people avoid travel because it can be costly, many more admit they would travel more if they simply had the time. So how can you make travel a bigger part of your life in the year ahead? Consider the following tips. • Use your vacation days. Many people don’t travel because they simply aren’t using their paid time off. A Harris Interactive survey conducted for the career website Glassdoor found that only 51 percent of American employees use all of their eligible paid time off and vacation time. Some of those workers may be hesitant to take days off for fear of upsetting their superiors, but another survey suggests that might be a mistake. A 2015 study from the staffing firm The Creative Group found that 40
Josh Chris
Sam
Ben
go, plan more weekend trips. Find places within a few hours of your home so you spend less time behind the wheel and more time enjoying your destination. Plan ahead for three-day weekends so you don’t have to scramble at the last minute to make arrangements. • Extend work trips. Another way to see new places is to extend work trips. If you have a business trip coming up, add an extra day at the end of the trip so you can explore a new locale without the burden of having to work. This can be a cost-effective way to travel, as your company will no doubt still pay to fly you home even if you stay an extra day to do some sightseeing. Finding time to travel is not as hard as many working professionals may think. Oftentimes all it takes is a little extra effort and the willingness to leave the office behind for a few days.
Put safe travel at the top of holidays lists The nation’s highways and skyways experience an influx of travelers during the holiday season. People are on the move over the last five weeks of the calendar year, traveling near and far to spend the holidays with friends and family members they hold dear. In fact, the United States Department of Transportation says the Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year’s holiday periods are among the busiest long-distance travel periods of the year. Roughly 90 percent of holiday travel takes place by personal vehicle, followed by air, bus and train, says the USDOT. With so many people on the move, the risk for accidents and other incidents increases. To keep the holidays enjoyable and safe, travelers should remember to exercise caution. • Schedule a tune-up. Make sure your car is in good working order. Check the air pressure in tires and get an oil change if it is time. Other cars on the road may kick up salt and other debris from the roadways, so be certain to top off windshield washer fluid to maintain adequate visibility. • Leave plenty of time.
Adam Joe
percent of executives feel their employees would be more productive if they used their allotted vacation time. • Hit the road and work at the same time. If things at work are simply too hectic, consider hitting the road and working at the same time. While unencumbered travel tends to be the most relaxing, working vacations can allow you to let off some steam and get your work done outside the hustle and bustle of the office. Resolve to work only a few hours each day, tackling a few projects in the early morning before you call it quits and enjoy your destination. The ease of working remotely can make it easier than ever before to stay connected to the office while still getting time to travel. • Make better use of weekends. Travel need not be limited to vacations. If you truly love to get up and
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Santa Claus stocks his station wagon with presents for children of the world. Expect traffic and leave extra time to get to your destination. Hurrying may cause you to increase your speed or make risky maneuvers behind the wheel that can increase your risk of accident and injury. Leave extra time as well for traveling through weather conditions like snow and sleet. • Know various routes to the destination. Volume or accidents can result in road detours. Keep a paper map in the car or rely on navigation systems. • Leave room for emergency supplies. Stock your vehicle with a change of
clothes, blankets, snacks and drinks, jumper cables, a flashlight, and additional safety supplies. Drivers should be prepared in the event of a breakdown. • Keep children entertained. A long trip can seem longer with unhappy children in tow. Plan ahead with some activities to keep kids occupied while on the road. Games, books, videos, and music can fill the time. Make frequent stops so kids can get out of the car and stretch. And don’t forget to pack some food and drinks to cut down on time-consuming rest stop visits.
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• Take turns driving. Spending long hours behind the wheel can cause fatigue. Share driving responsibilities with another adult passenger to help avoid drowsy driving conditions. If no one else is available to share the load, pull over and rest from time to time. • Secure packages and luggage. Tie down items on roof racks and in rear cargo areas of SUVs and vans so they’re not moving around freely. In the event of an accident, items that are not secured can be dangerous. Pack gifts and other items so that the driver’s line of sight is not impeded.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 | FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM | PAGE B3
LOWER GAS PRICES EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
Domestic car sales for 2015 poised to be record LOS ANGELES (TNS) — Despite an emissions controversy, exploding airbags and failing ignition switches, domestic car sales for 2015 appear poised to be the best in U.S. history. Industry experts predict, based on year-to-date sales and projections for December, that the year’s total sales will top 17.4 million vehicles, beating the previous high sales mark set in the year 2000. “The economy is strong, interest rates are low, and fuel prices are at the lowest rate since 2009,” said Stacey Doyle, senior auto industry analyst for Truecar. “Consumers feel more confident about bigger-ticket purchases.” November’s numbers were strong, continuing steady growth since midyear. Total passenger and light truck sales for the first 11 months of 2015 totaled over 15 million units, up 5.5 percent from the first 11 months of 2014. Fiat-Chrysler sales were up 3 percent for the month, while GM sales rose 1.5 percent. Ford overall sales were flat, but F-Series truck sales rose 10 percent. Nissan was up 3.8 percent, and Toyota climbed 3.4 percent. Niche nameplates Land Rover, Scion, Volvo and Alfa Romeo did even better, though their numbers were smaller. “The auto industry is close to having an all-time best-ever year,” said Toyota vice president and general manager Bill Fay. “We will likely end the year exceeding our expectations with about 2.44 million sales.” The big numbers have been paralleled by big auto recalls. Volkswagen admitted this fall that it had installed so-called “defeat devices” in millions of its diesel automobiles, in an attempt to evade emissions standards. That company’s sales for November were off 25 percent, largely due to suspended sales of popular diesel vehicles. But General Motors’ sales for the year have been robust, despite revelations that the Detroit giant overlooked persistent problems with faulty ignition switches on many older models — problems tied to dozens of auto fatalities. Sales at Toyota and Honda have apparently not been harmed by news reports of deaths tied to exploding airbags installed in those automakers’ cars and vehicles made by other manufacturers. Those airbag problems have been blamed in multiple deaths. Doyle and others said larger economic forces are urging new car sales up. Gas prices, while above 2000 levels, have remained relatively low and relatively stable. Unemployment rates, in addition to interest rates, are also low. “The labor market and the interest rates create a favorable climate for car purchases,” said Ford’s U.S. sales analyst Erich Merkle. Another key factor, Merkle said, is the relatively old population of vehicles currently in use. In 2000, the average age of cars on U.S. roads was just under 10 years. Now, Merkle’s research indicates, it’s closer to 12 years old. That’s partly because cars are better built and expected to last longer. But it’s also because consumers, wary since the industry bottomed out in 2008 and 2009, have been reluctant to commit their money to such an expensive purchase. “The average age of the vehicles creates an environment where more people are ready to buy new cars,” Merkle said. One number that has not gone up: Vehicle density, or the ratio of vehicles to drivers. Merkle said that in 2000, there were just over 1,000 vehicles in use for every 1,000 people of driving age. That number has dropped to about 965 vehicles for every American of driving age. “Sales have gone up, but vehicle density hasn’t,” Merkle said. Doyle said there is also reason to believe next year’s numbers may set another record.
GLOBAL PRODUCTION GOES UP WHILE DEMAND DOES NOT FARGO (FNS) — Gaso- blends in February. As a line prices that continue to result, prices at the pump fall are giving consumers often begin creeping up in a present whenever they March and continue to move fill their tank, thanks to a up until peaking during the supply glut. summer driving season, LaGlobal production of ducer said. “We’re not expecting to see oil continues to soar and demand has softened, send- any significant price increasing gasoline to between es,” he added. As of now, he $1.74 and $1.80 per gallon in predicts summer gas prices the Fargo-Moorhead area. will peak in the $2.60 to $2.70 Experts predict more per gallon range. Mike Rud, president of of the same as low prices should continue through the North Dakota Petroleum winter. Marketers, agreed that low “I would expect that we gas prices should remain would continue to trend the norm. lower and remain near cur“It would appear that rent levels through Febru- American consumers are ary or early March,” said going to continue to enjoy Gene Laducer, a spokesman low prices at the gas pump,” for AAA North Dakota. he said. “It’s insane the this time of year. Refineries begin switch- amount of oil that’s flowing The average gas price in ing to their summer fuel into the market.” California typically runs higher than the average for the rest of the nation because of the unique blend of environmentally Minnesota gas prices friendly gas here as well Statewide ............................. $1.868 as state taxes and fees. But this year, the gap Duluth-Superior ................... $1.834 was unusually wide, with Minneapolis-St. Paul ............ $1.858 the state average as much Rochester .............................. $1.803 as 75 cents a gallon more than the national average. St. Cloud ............................... $1.960 In the Los Angeles area, Alexandria ............................ $1.872 the gap was even greater Detroit Lakes ........................ $1.797 — as much as $1.50 higher. Fergus Falls ........................... $1.899 Blame for much of the Morris.................................... $1.889 disparity this year fell on the outage at Exxon Mobil’s Torrance refinery. North Dakota gas prices Exxon reduced output at the facility to less than 20 Statewide .............................$1.961 percent after an explosion Bismarck ...............................$2.023 in February destroyed a Fargo-Moorhead..................$1.708 pollution-control system. Grand Forks ..........................$1.991 Normally, Torrance accounts for 10 percent of the Wahpeton-Breckenridge .....$1.765 state’s refined Capacity.
Nation is below $2 a gallon, but some places remain near $3 LOS ANGELES (TNS) — The nationwide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline Monday fell below $2 for the first time since March 2009 while most motorists in the Los Angeles area are paying closer to $3. In the L.A. region, the average price for a gallon of regular rose to $2.87, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. The statewide average was $2.72. The American Automobile Association reported that the national average reached $1.99 on Monday, a level expected about a month ago. The new low for the year comes as holiday travelers are hitting the road. “Drivers across the country are celebrating the historic return of cheaper gas prices,” said Marshall
“Drivers across the country are celebrating the historic return of cheaper gas prices.” — Marshall Doney, AAA Doney, AAA’s president and chief executive. “The lowest gas prices in nearly seven years are a holiday gift that few consumers could have imagined when gasoline was $4 a gallon.” AAA said gas prices have dropped because there is more than enough oil and gasoline supply around the world to meet demand. In addition, gas prices generally fall through early winter because people drive less and use less fuel
PAGE B4 | FERGUSFALLSJOURNAL.COM | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
Protect your vehicle from snow, ice and damage from cold
WINDOW STICKERS EXPLAINED Buying a new car can be both exciting and confusing. The automotive industry, including manufacturers, dealerships and salespeople, have their own unique lingo, and buyers may not always understand some of the terms they hear as they shop for a new car. Anyone who has ever visited a new car dealership has probably glanced at a new car sticker and felt like something has been lost in translation. Such stickers hang prominently in the windows of all new cars on the lot, but reading them can be akin to reading a complicated legal document. Drivers about to begin their searches for new vehicles may benefit from learning the following terms they might see when reading window stickers at their local auto dealerships. • Vehicle description: This is typically at the top left or right of the sticker, and it includes information about the vehicle you are
looking at. This includes the type of engine and transmission, the interior and exterior colors, the make and model of the vehicle, and its passenger capacity. charge: • Destination Drivers who have passed auto transport trucks hauling new automobiles on the highway might not know it, but if they ever bought a new vehicle, chances are they helped to pay for the trip those cars made from the manufacturing plant to the dealership lot. That’s because window stickers typically list a destination charge, which is the fee buyers pay to get the vehicle from the plant to the dealership. This might be listed as “Destination & Delivery” on the sticker. • Fuel economy: Many buyers understand this term when they see it, but they might not know that the figure listed next to fuel economy, which is an estimate of how many much miles per gallon a given vehicle gets in the
city and on the highway, is determined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. • MSRP: The MSRP, or manufacturer suggested retail price, is the price of the vehicle before any additional charges, including destination charges, are added in. • Standard equipment: On a window sticker, the basic items the vehicle is equipped with are listed as the standard equipment. This can include a number of items, such as AM/FM radio and heating and cooling systems. The standard equipment listed on the sticker is often broken down into categories, including exterior, interior, safety/security and warranty information. • Optional equipment: The special features available, such as leather interior and heated seats, will be listed separately in this category. These features may only be available as part of bundled packages,
though some manufacturers allow buyers to add them a la carte. • Total retail price: The total retail price includes the MSRP and the standard and optional equipment, but it does not include taxes or registration and title fees. • Safety ratings: Safety ratings also are included on vehicle stickers, and these can shed light on how the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has rated a given vehicle if it has tested that car or truck. If you are unsure of what those terms mean or if the safety ratings are not listed (the NHTSA does not test every new model every year), visit the Insurance Institute for High Safety website at www.iihs.org. Prospective car buyers may not give new vehicle window stickers more than a passing glance, but these stickers are invaluable sources of information that can shed a great deal of light on a given vehicle and its costs and features.
Winter can be an unforgiving season. Freezing temperatures coupled with snow and ice can take its toll on people who live in climates where cold weather is a fact of winter life. While winter can test people’s patience, it also can be harsh on cars and trucks. Understanding what components of a vehicle can be compromised by dropping temperatures and snowy roads can help drivers take action to safeguard their automotive investments. While the Canadian Automobile Association notes that winter can wreak havoc on just about every part of a vehicle, there are some parts that seem to bear the brunt of Old Man Winter’s abuse. Properly servicing and caring for a car or truck can help. Drivers should take their vehicles for a tuneup and inspection before wintry weather arrives. A mechanic will examine the car battery and check antifreeze levels and make sure that the thermostat, defroster, brakes, and even wiper blades are working effectively. Have the tires inspected for adequate tread, which can make navigating roads safer. If the treads are worn, replace the tires. In addition to visiting their mechanics, drivers can perform some inspections and fixes themselves. • Check that all of the vehicle’s lights are operational so your car can be easily seen during inclement weather. Exchange your existing windshield washer fluid with one that will not freeze in cold conditions. Check the nozzles on the windshield-washer system routinely and clear out any blockages of ice or debris. While addressing windshield
washer fluid, also replace worn out windshield wiper blades with ones that can withstand snow and icy weather. • A new coating of wax can serve as a shield against road salt, snow, sleet, and rain. Try a polymer wax to protect the paint. Whenever possible, rinse off salt and grime so it does not dry on the car and gradually wear away at the paint. Some drivers mistakenly believe that salt stops being a problem once it dries simply because moisture is the active ingredient for a corrosive reaction. But humidity in the air is enough to keep the salt eating away at the car’s paint, and that can contribute to rust. Be sure to rinse off the undercarriage of the vehicle as well. • Have your tires’ alignment checked toward the end of winter or early spring. A season of traveling over pothole-ridden roads or hitting curbs buried under snow drifts can affect the alignment. Get everything back on track. Similarly, inspect tires routinely, as weather changes can affect tire pressure and strength. • Use a soft snow brush or a foam brush to clear snow off of the car. Avoid hard plastic scrapers you might use on your windshield, as they can scratch painted surfaces. • Try to park the vehicle in a garage or under a car port, each of which can protect cars and trucks from the often harsh elements of winter. • Scrapers should only be used on windows and not on the body of the car. Vehicles can be affected by the cold weather. Keep them running efficiently to prevent damage this winter.
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Garage burn s on West Linc oln | 75 CENTS | FERGUSFALLSJO URNAL.COM
By Tim Engstro
m tengstrom@fergusfallsjo urnal.com
49% of residents use The Daily Journal to find shopping e information — more than all other media.
property at $72,227. The records do not break out A garage in of the garage. the specific value burned Sunday Fergus Falls A man in the alley who said a black billow afternoon with was the he owner and spoke could be seen of smoke that Fergus with Falls police and and caused the for miles around ficials fire ofdeclined to closure of Lincoln comment Avenue. Sunday. A recreational Hovland of control was fire that got out spread to said the garage fire a squirrel’s nest blaze, at 710 W. the cause of the tree, prompti in ng firefighters a Fergus Falls Lincoln Ave., said douse the to Fire Chief Mark nest Hovland. Wind tree from atop and part of the speed the in Fergus house. roof of the Falls on Sunday The mph out of the afternoon was 14 back of the fire discolored the north with gusts house, of 22 mph. was fire damage he said. There The single-fa minivan in the to the back of a driveway in front home is a rental mily, two-story of the garage and to a neighbor M. Sauer of Saukowned by Joseph trampol ’s ine, flower pot ing to Otter Tail Rapids, accord- bage bin. and gartax records. The County property The call went out at about was built in 1985.detached garage p.m. People The house was gathered along 1:40 built in 1906, streets the to watch with a patio added in 1970. The extinguish the the firefighters records place flames. total tax-asse ssed value of the Avenue was reopened Lincoln to traffic the shortly before 3 p.m. Firefighters spray water on the more photos charred shell of at fergusfallsjourna a garage Sunday l.com. TIM ENGSTROM at 710 W. Lincoln /DAILY JOURNAL
A TIME TO REMEM BER
AT THE FFHS PRO M
Ave. in Fergus
11 new pieces added to art collection By Jacob Tellers
news@fergusfallsjournand Miranda Hubert al.com
Allison Ringquis Prom. The themet and Zach Thunselle make their this year was “When I Close way down the Grand March My Eyes.” stage PHOTOS BY ZACH
Saturday STICH/DAILY JOURNAL evening at the Fergus Falls High
School
Books aren’t check out fromthe only items visitors can the The Fergus Falls library. Public Library members the offers ability from its art collectioto check out art pieces n. The library pieces thanks recently added 11 new to a memoria ing Margaret l fund honorSanderson. “I think this is everyone know a great opportunity to let they can check artwork out,” library director Erin Smith said. Sanderson was a founding member the Friends of of Library group the Fergus Falls Public current board established in 1999. The son family to worked with the Sanderdetermine a project for the See LIBRARY,
Page 3
19-year-old St. Paul homicid evokes memorie e hopes for clue s, s By Mara H. Gottfrie d
Pioneer Press
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Falls. Find
Library artwork available to check out
ST. PAUL — been on a busy A little dry cleaner has Some pass by St. Paul street for decades. without noticing building. the set-back
It might ight be long shot, but homicid investigators a long homicide e hope h who was aroundope someone took took note of the business and has a tidbit tidbit of informat 19 years ago ion to help solve ion a cold-case homicide hom sage of time, icide.. Or that, with the paspeople who were people reluctant to speak afraid or speak out would be willing to be
Above: Maddie Veum and Josh Veum for photos at Hanson fist bump Hanson the front of the the as they they pose up the rock sign stage. At right: righ sign as the audience audience cheers t: Joe Isaacson throws Kate Rinke. for him him and his date, date, MAILING LABEL
In The Daily Daily Journa l Tuesday A local artist artist shows off community’s think off pieces in pieces mini-museum. seum.
TUESDAY’S FLAG Full staff
The Daily Journal media
www.fergusfallsjournal.com
See HOMICID E, Page Page 3
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