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NuLine Insurance Services is dedicated to finding you the right insurance to insure your growth. We provide quality auto, home, business, and ag insurance.

Business Spotlight


Our February Business Spotlight is 701 Healthcare Solutions!
Have you found yourself looking for someone to assist you with your health insurance needs? We have found you a "solution!" Pictured above are April, McKenna and Tanner. McKenna (middle—Owner/Broker) found there to be a lack of a local resource for helping people with their health insurance needs. I mean, we all know how confusing the different plans are and how does one keep track of changes from year to year? It is so complex! This is FREE health insurance guidance! How can we go wrong here!? They pride themselves on offering excellent customer service and giving honest advice so you can be informed and understand your coverage. Having a local person to call when you have questions is priceless when you consider sitting on hold and talking to different representatives with the insurance companies. They work with several different Health Insurance carriers like Blue Cross, United, Sanford, Delta and Medica just to name a few. This team is here to explore the different plans for your specific needs, whether you are an individual, family or in need of a group plan. A lot of people do not understand Medicare and what they are signing up for, and these guys are here to help with that. They can also do an annual review of your prescriptions to compare the drug plans to make sure you are on the correct one. They can review family plans through the marketplace to see if you qualify for a rebate, which a lot of people aren’t aware of. Some of the other coverages offered are dental, vision, disability and long term care plans as well!
701 Healthcare Solutions is located at 24 1st St. NE, Minot ND 58703 in the 701 Realty building. McKenna and Tanner are also licensed Realtors!
You can contact them at 701-852-CARE(2273) or
They have a Website 701healthins.com and also a Facebook page.
Give them a call today, they are informed and ready to answer your questions!

Recipe of the Month

Sausage Queso Dip
Its Super Bowl Time! I don’t know what's better, the game or the food!
Ingredients:
1 lb ground pork sausage, make sure it says "sausage"
8 oz cream cheese, (no need to soften)
20 oz Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, (two 10oz cans)
15 oz can of corn, drained
8 oz medium cheddar cheese, shredded
Garnish for Queso Dip:
1 Roma tomato, diced
1Tbsp chives or green onion, finely chopped
In a large dry pot or deep skillet med/high, brown sausage (10-12 min), breaking it apart with spatula (the sausage releases enough oil to grease pan.) When browned, remove excess grease by pushing a paper towel around the pan with a spatula until fully saturated then discard.
Cut cream cheese into pieces and stir into browned pork until melted and incorporated. Add 2 cans un-drained Rotel tomatoes, 15 oz can drained corn and 8 oz cheese (reserve some cheddar to garnish the top if desired). Cook over med heat, garnish with fresh tomatoes, reserved cheddar, and chopped chives. Serve with tortilla chips. Enjoy!

Claim Corner

The Ring Was Where?

By: Amy Streifel
Valentine’s Day is soon approaching ladies! You know what that means…..go get your nails done. You'll want them looking great for possible engagement ring pictures. So fast forward through the beautiful wonderful once in a lifetime engagement and now you have the ring. This was an insured of ours. She had a big ole rock. He husband obviously wasn't an insurance agent. Joking! Anyway, it happened at a family dinner. She has a big family and they love to get together and have big meals. The preparations had begun and there was a feast like you can’t imagine. At dinner, our insured went to grab her engagement ring, which she always took off for cooking. It was missing and she couldn't remember if she had removed it or not. The search was on. There were many hours of looking and many tears. Her fiancé, who had forgotten to add it to his insurance policy yet, was staying clear. There was only one place they hadn't looked. She ran back to the table where the food sat cold and grabbed the turkey she had prepared. She went elbow deep into that bird pulling out the innards. Stuck together in a pile of stuffing, she felt it. When she pulled it out everyone was relieved, especially the fiancé, whose first call on Monday morning was to our insurance office. People add jewelry to their insurance policies everyday, especially pieces that are of high value. Adding your jewelry not only gives you piece of mind, it’s protection for all causes of loss. Its very easy to misplace or even have your valuables stolen. We had another insured last week that lost a single diamond out of her ring. Because she had it scheduled on her homeowners policy, she was protected. The best part, generally speaking, is you can choose a separate deductible, which can be zero with many companies for your jewelry claim. Also, by scheduling it, you are not subject to the perils of the policy, so whatever happens to the ring, it is covered! Our couple got lucky in their instance because they found it. They especially got lucky because our insured joked that after the turkey she would have to go looking in some not so fun places…...

How Well Do You Know Your Contractor?

By Amy Streifel
A couple years ago, I was in desperate need of a contractor. As you may know, they are not easy to come by these days. They are generally booked out so far in advance, you have to be booking months ahead of time. I had a project I just needed to get done. It was the removal of a building and possibly putting up another in its place. Every day I sent messages and made calls to contractors, even into the neighboring states. Finally I got a bite. A gentleman from Minnesota answered my ad and could start in a week. I was beyond excited. Over the phone we didn't go into a lot of detail, but he was cheaper than anticipated and available so I hired him. I told my husband at the time and his question was, what are his qualifications. I thought about it, "well, he said he's a contractor and has lots of experience". Looking back I am kicking myself for not verifying that information. A week later, true to his word, he pulled into my yard. It should have been a red flag that he pulled up in a camper, but I didn't question it. I showed him the big barn that needed to be demolished and asked where his equipment was. He proceeded to hold up a single hammer………
He wasn't getting paid by the hour so I didn't ask any more questions. He started his work that day with his single hammer and made little progress. The next day when I questioned why he had not left my property all night, he informed me he would live in his camper in my yard until the job was done. This should have been another red flag. Feeling slightly uncomfortable but optimistic, my family just made the best of it. After a month, we joked he was part of the family. It took him a good month to take down 1/3 of the barn. I was beginning to get worried he wouldn't finish the job. A couple of times I saw him fall through floor boards. I panicked and asked to see his contract. There was no contract. That was also concerning. One day, I got home from work and our contractor was MIA. Camper was gone along with some good lumber. It was in that moment I thought about all the red flags. The barn was a mess and only partially done. My yard was a mess of lumber he had been pulling off. Thankfully I had not yet paid him. Needless to say, it was a lesson well learned. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. If you are entrusting someone to come into your home and to treat the job with the respect it deserves, make sure that person is reliable. And most importantly…..a real contractor.
In a typical homeowner policy, the contractor’s work is not a covered loss. Making sure your contractor is licensed and insured is very important! At NuLine we insure many contractors of all different trades so we know first hand the types of things that can happen. We did have an insured who used a contractor to put in a patio door. The contractor did not install it correctly and now there are issues of leaking and damage to flooring. Unfortunately his home policy will not cover this. He would need to go back to the contractor in this situation. It can turn costly if the contractor doesn’t have insurance and isn’t willing to make it right!
Do’s & Don’ts of Hiring a Contractor:
Þ DO: Require a contract and understand it.
Þ Don’t: Forget to ask for references in the area.
Þ Do: Only work with licensed contractors.
Þ Don’t: Rush into repairs or hire the 1st contractor that comes along.
Þ Do: Ask for a copy of their insurance.
Þ Don’t: Pay until the work is complete and you are satisfied.

I’ll be DAMNED!


By Amy Streifel
Its nearing the beginning of December and there's not much snow! A lot of us would love this weather all winter, but we know what's coming. I think back to last winter. The snowbanks were over my head. I specifically remember a time I told the kids to watch for me as I was going to brave walking around to the back of my house. No one had walked back there since fall and it was snow half way up the side of the house. As I was walking I could see my kids watching out the window. Do you know what they saw? An avalanche of snow fall off the roof right on top of me. You'd think their initial reaction would be checking my safety, but as I climbed out and into the house they were rolling on the floor laughing….Why was I behind the house you may ask? I have seen and heard too many horror stories in my time being an insurance agent of ice dams. Ice dams not taken care of can literally destroy homes and you’ll be saying more than damn if it happens to you. They occur when heavy snow buildup melts during the day and then refreezes overnight. When this happens the buildup can become very heavy. If not taken care of, they can fall off the roof, taking your gutters with them. We have seen it happen on several homes. And that’s just the damage to the outside. Unfortunately, there are many times, your ceiling and walls may be compromised. Ice builds up under the shingles and gets into the interior walls, then the walls cave in.
The good news is that ice dams are preventable. One main thing you can do is use a snow rake to get the snow off of your roof. De-icing cables are another great way to get that moisture moving through your gutters instead of freezing in them. Making sure your attic is thoroughly insulated also helps. These are just a few things to try. If you do what you can to prevent ice dams, you will save yourself a lot of time and money. Depending on your homeowners policy, the dwelling coverage may cover the cost to repair ice dam damage. That may include repairing your roof, walls and other damage to the structure of your home up to your coverage limits. However, depending on your coverage, you may have out of pocket expenses, such as the actual removal of the ice dam, or if you damaged the shingles trying to get the ice dam removed yourself. As always, this is great scenario to discuss with your insurance agent to make sure you have coverages you are comfortable with.

Western ReCreations




Do you have an old piece of furniture that needs some western flare added? Check out the work Tammy Tollefson does as a hobby! Tammy launched Western ReCreations in Churches Ferry, ND five years ago to keep her hobbies alive and now the hobby has turned into quite a list of projects that leads to some late nights in the shop! Tammy visits about 6 markets a year in North Dakota, Montana and South Dakota. They have pieces on hand but also take in custom orders. However, the list is long so if you have something in mind, better to get on the list now. You can never rush an artist if you want a true piece of art!
Some of the pieces Tammy has worked on date 100 years old and her hope is that they live on 100+ more. As she is working with a piece, she likes to think about the stories it could tell. She said, "if these pieces could talk, think of all they could tell." Throughout all the restoring they use leather, hair on leather, and Navaho blankets. They use a lot of turquoise, fringe, and buttons to give every piece its unique flare. With the wood, it is sealed with three coats of clear sealant, so the new owner has basic care requirements which is such a treat! The best way to get in touch with Tammy is through Western ReCreations Facebook page. Here are a few pieces but you will have to explore the page for more.

Recipe of the Month

Monkey Bread
McKenzie’s Grandma Sue’s Recipe
We know with Thanksgiving around the corner the sheer panic of "what to make for breakfast for everyone" when you are the host can be overwhelming . We also know you want everyone to feel treated for the holiday so here is a quick sweet breakfast that everyone will enjoy!
Ingredients:
4 Pkg country-style Pillsbury’s Cinnamon Rolls
2/3 C. Sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 stick butter
1 C. brown sugar
Instructions: Cut each biscuit in quarters. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Bring butter and brown sugar to a boil. Grease a bundt cake pan. Shake biscuits in a covered bowl with sugar and cinnamon mixture; place in the bundt pan. Pour boiled mixture over the top and bake at 350o for 40 minutes or until golden brown. Top with powder sugar glaze. Enjoy!

RING OF FIRE


By Amy Streifel
Its scary to see fires in the headlines. Whether it’s a business or a home, fires can be devastating. For that reason alone, I have always taught my children the importance of fire safety and am very diligent of what to do in an emergency. I have a smoke detector in every room and practice fire escapes with the kids. I have also led by example when it comes to fire safety. One example a few years ago, I happened to be driving in the country when I saw a smoke ring in the distance. So, I did what every nosy person usually does, I drove towards the smoke to check out the situation. In doing so I saw from a distance there was a fire out in the middle of a field. Being the helpful person I am, I called 911 to report the fire. After I found out that it was actually a controlled burn put on by the firemen, I felt a little foolish, but it still was a teaching moment for my kids. I reiterate to my family, help whenever you can as long as you are safe. We are not risking any lives saving stuffed animals.
If you should come up to a fire what should you do? Do not do what I did by going towards it. Stay away and call for help. Know how to safely operate a fire extinguisher. This is a fun lesson I just taught my kids. The priority when discovering a fire must always be to evacuate the premises.

Business Spotlight

Fork 2 Field
By: McKenzie Blumhagen
Debbie Richards overheard some wives at church talking about how tricky it can be to feed the crowds, attend the games, get everyone where they need to be on time, help in the field, you know – live the farm wife life. Debbie was overwhelmed listening to everything the women were sharing and decided, you know, I am going to help. Forego, welcome Fork 2 Field to the Harvey area! This food truck is saving the day this Harvest Season. This wonderful food truck will deliver meals with a mileage fee and their radius has to be within 17 miles of Harvey. In order to deliver, you just share a pin to your location so they can find the correct field. Only Midwesterners would be directing meals to fields, am I right? If you have a driver going to the elevator in Harvey or someone picking up the meals you can call meals ahead and they will have them packed and ready for you! Last minute orders are welcomed. Debbie is so wonderful, if you don’t know her, you should. She is quite an entertainer on top of a problem solver! Their first full week began on August 21st. Fork 2 Field will always be closed Thursdays & Sundays. Menus are posted on Facebook (Find Fork 2 Field) the Wednesday before the next week. Their hours are 11-2 PM for lunch and 3-7 PM for supper. I hope you take the time to check them out, farmer or not, we have another food option in Harvey and that is such a relief for so many of us – so let’s keep her open!

Recipe of the Month

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients:
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 Large eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
2 Cups rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips
2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup milk
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8x8 baking dish. In a bowl, combine oats, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt. Mix to combine. Add pumpkin puree, milk, eggs, vanilla, and syrup/honey to bowl and stir. Spread into prepared baking dish and bake for 30-35 min. Oatmeal is done baking when it is puffed up on the edges, set in the middle and top is golden. Let cool for 5 min. It firms up as it cools. Store in fridge up to 4 days. You can sub nuts for the chocolate. *I like to add a drizzle of pure maple syrup or honey and cream before I dig in!