Burn Burn Burn
Burn Burn Burn
Burning ditches and burning fields is an agricultural practice that effectively and inexpensively removes accumulated debris that can block ditches and water flow. It should only be attempted in certain places and under certain weather conditions. Damp seasons and when there is snow on the ground are ideal but only if the winds are blowing 5mph or less. There are certain precautions one should take to ensure your safety and to ensure the fire does not get out of control. From an insurance standpoint, should you be negligent in taking precautions and the fire damages another’s property, you could be liable. Here are a list of steps to take in order to practice safe burning:
1. Secure prior approval. Depending on the state and how much you are burning, you may need to notify the appropriate authorities and fire department of the burn.
2. Have a plan. Know the area where you are planning to burn as well as the surrounding area. Take note of property lines, fences, gates, power lines, roads, and nearby buildings. Also be aware of anything that could intensify the fire such as dead trees or matted grass.
3. Create firebreaks to contain the fire. You can do this by mowing, plowing disking, creating a wet line or backfiring. Notify surrounding land owners of your intent to burn.
4. Watch the weather. The factors to determine a safe burn include; wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity.
5. Use proper equipment. You will need equipment to ignite the fire and smother it. Have a sufficient supply of water on hand to refill pumps and sprayers.
Posted on October 16th, 2018
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
“As cooler weather approaches, I'm always looking for warm hearty comfort food, and this is it!"
Ingredients:
1 pound of penne pasta
6 strips of bacon diced
2 tbsp. all purpose flour
1 packet of ranch seasoning mix
2 cups milk
1 tbsp. butter
Salt and pepper
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts-cut into pieces
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions: Start by cooking your pasta, draining it, and setting it aside. While you are making your noodles, cook your bacon in a skillet. Drain the grease but keep 1 tbsp. of bacon drippings in the pan. Add a tbsp. of butter to the bacon drippings and toss in your chicken breast pieces. Cook until no longer pink. Pour the ranch dressing mix and flour over chicken then add 2 cups of milk. Stir until it is bubbly and thick. Add the cheese and half of your diced bacon. Stir until melted. Combine the sauce and noodles together and add salt and pepper. Top off with the extra bacon pieces and ENJOY!
Posted on October 10th, 2018
Adventures in an Uber!
Adventures in an Uber!
By Amy Haldorson
This day in age, ride sourcing has become the norm. Its rare to find a larger city that does not have Uber or Lyft. These ways of travel are convenient, most times inexpensive and also an excellent source of income.
Having used this form of transportation many times, I thought I was familiar with everything when it came to the process. Recently, I found myself in an uncomfortable Uber situation to say the least. I was in a large city a few weeks ago needing a ride. Everything went smoothly like always, until the driver pulled up to my destination. I quickly flung open my door and at that exact time another car came flying by crashing into my open door. I heard the sound of crunching and was almost too scared to look. The door hadn't completely come off, so I very carefully reached out and shut the door as best I could. I looked up at the Uber driver who was staring wide eyed at me. I'm pretty sure I had the same look on my face. I said, thank you for the ride sir, handed him a ten and got out of the car as fast as I could. I looked around for the other vehicle which was long gone, not stopping to survey the damage. I was at a loss when it came to knowing what to do in this situation. I felt bad for him, as I looked back seeing him looking at his vehicle and cringing. Somehow I don’t think the 5 star rating I gave him was going to be of any comfort.
My mind immediately went to insurance. Who was liable for the damage? Uber requires all of their drivers to have car insurance and provide supplemental insurance coverage, but only while the app is on. When the Uber app is off, a driver is covered by their own personal car insurance. In this situation, the Uber’s app will still on and so Uber’s insurance still covered the incident.
If you choose to become an Uber or Lyft driver yourself, your personal auto insurance will probably not be enough coverage while you are driving for the company. If you are considering doing this for a profession, it is always a good idea to first check with your insurance agent to make sure you have all the right coverages in place.
Posted on October 2nd, 2018
HOME MAINTENANCE MUST DO’S!
HOME MAINTENANCE MUST DO’S!
When you own a home its important to understand the main purpose of homeowner’s insurance is to protect from major risks like fires, hail, explosions, theft and wind. What is doesn't cover is poor maintenance which could lead to costly repairs and future claims.
We have put together some useful tips to avoid some future problems:
1. Caulk where needed to keep moisture out.
2. Clean the clothes dryer lint trap and exhaust duct.
3. Inspect your roof for early signs of wear or damage and repair right away.
4. Test and clean sump pump pit on a regular basis.
5. Inspect and clean chimneys annually.
6. Clean and maintain gutters and downspouts.
7. Regularly inspect pipes and plumbing.
8. Inspect your deck. There has been a recent increase in the number of decks that have collapsed or fallen apart.
Posted on September 18th, 2018
Driving Adventures With My Teenager
Driving Adventures With My Teenager
By Amy Haldorson
The day is finally here. I always knew it would come, but no one really prepared me for the most frightening, hair-raising, terrifying event in my life. That’s right people, you guessed it….my teen is now a driver. I had always imagined my little girl and I going for her first driving lesson. We would be laughing together, I’d help her with her first parallel park, she’d maybe even look over at me at some point and say, you know mom, I love us spending time together. My fantasy was soon crushed when we did in fact get my daughter behind the wheel for the first time. I watched as she adjusted her seat, mirrors, fixed her hair, and turned off my 90s hip hop, the usual. I tried giving her a little instruction as she backed up and was met with “omg mom, can you be more annoying". She’s right, this is her time to shift into adulthood. I sat back and smiled, she's got this, why am I worrying? Crunch! Yep, that just happened. She hit her father’s vehicle just backing out of the driveway. I very calmly told her to turn off the car and I walked back to my house. This concludes the driving lesson for today. We will try again tomorrow. Not all new driver situations are this scary. Some kids actually make it out of the driveway. Once your student has finally gotten their license, its time to think about insurance. Many people ask us, do I have to even let my insurance know if my teen only drives my vehicle, or will my insurance go up if my teen is listed on my policy. To answer these questions, if your child is licensed, yes, they need to be rated as a driver on your insurance plan and it will go up! Individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 are considered the most risky drivers to insure. Fun fact: the most expensive state to add a teen driver is Rhode Island. They have an average premium increase of 137%. North Dakota ranks 4th least expensive with an average increase of 61%! There are some ways, however, to offset the cost. Insurance companies offer a good student discount (B average or 3.0 GPA), which a lot of people don’t realize. We recently had a customer who added her teenage son. When, she did, the premium increased by $450/year. Thankfully when speaking to her, we were able to get her son’s grades into the company and they received a good student discount, which gave them a discount of $150/year, which every little bit helps! Also, something to consider when getting your child a their first vehicle, is the type of vehicle will affect the insurance. Different cars rate differently with insurance. A newer car will obviously make for a higher premium because of the vehicle symbol being higher and whether or not full coverage or liability only is needed. My parents did the smart thing with me even though at the time, I was sure my life was over. My first vehicle was an old ‘85 Buick. An older, less fancy car rates much lower, so I can appreciate them trying to save money. So, when they say, Oh Mom, c’mon that car is not good enough, just give us a call and we will run the numbers for you to show them the cost differences. And, remember—your kids are always watching what you do—drive with that in mind!
Posted on September 11th, 2018
- RECIPE OF THE MONTH -
Homemade Pico de Gallo
By Michelle Weinmann
“Fresh garden produce makes this the perfect appetizer, or bake over chicken breasts and some cheese for a quick meal!"
Ingredients:
2 cups diced sweet tomatoes like grape or roma
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
1 jalapeno pepper
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 lime, juiced
Dice tomatoes with the salt and place them in a mesh strainer over a bowl for 10 min. Discard the juice.
In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, cilantro, pepper and lime juice together and mix. Let chill for 10-20 min to allow flavors to meld. Serve with chips or as a topping on your favorite Mexican dish.
Enjoy!
Posted on August 30th, 2018
Business Spotlight of the Month!
Business Spotlight of the Month!
THE BAIT BOX
This month we want to spotlight a new business located in Harvey, Rugby and Anamoose, ND. The Bait Box is owned and operated by Jerry and Lara Schuh of Harvey. Being an avid fishing family, the Schuh’s always had dreams of selling bait and tackle in some capacity. When this business venture came along, they jumped at the chance. They recognized the local area always had a great need for bait. The Schuh’s along with their three boys, fish year round, so they have a good idea of what people want and need when it comes to this pastime. The Bait Box is very easy to access and has multiple selections of bait such as leeches, minnows, wax worms and more. Also available is tackle and snacks. They are going to be adding green glow worms soon as well. Schuh’s encourage people to call and ask if there's something they wish to buy that’s not currently available. Their information is located on the side of the machine. Shipments of bait usually come in bulk a few times a week and they get from multiple locations including Canada. Lara then travels to each bait box and refills a few times a week. The Bait Box is refrigerated and heated when need be to be up and running all year round. As of now, they are happy with serving three locations, but are open to expanding in the future.
Posted on August 28th, 2018
Tragedy in the Backseat
Not another one; are the words I would imagine run through everyone’s mind when we hear the headlines. Another baby left to die in a hot car. I feel sick when I hear these stories and we are hearing them way too often. It’s every parents worst nightmare and though every parent says it will never happen to them, it continues to happen all over the country. Why is this happening? It’s the first question to ask. Has our society become too self involved? Are parents more stressed out and spread to thin? We could probably ask 100 questions and yet no one will have the answer. In almost all hot car deaths, they are not the result of malicious intent. As summer weather reaches its peak, government agencies begin to warn families about the dangers of leaving children in hot vehicles. Each year, dozens of little ones die in parked cars, where temperatures can rise rapidly even on cool days. On average, 37 kids die in overheated vehicles each year in the U.S. This number is way too high, when most of the deaths are preventable. We want to remind people of some ways to prevent these terrible situations from happening. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call no matter what, as they would much rather respond to a false alarm than a fatality. A child’s body overheats 3-5 times faster than an adult body. If the child’s temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child will die. Look before you lock. That’s the message that needs to spread. There’s also a national campaign called “Bag in the back". It is just what it sounds like. Place a purse, backpack or something the backseat that you will need. It forces parents to check the backseat. If you have a smartphone, there are apps that can notify you as a reminder. Greater awareness of these tragedies is what is going to help prevent them from happening in the future.
Tips:
· Always check the back seat
· Observe and report If you see a child alone in a car, call 911, especially on hot days.
· Be on alert if your routine changes Your risk of leaving your child behind increases.
· Place a child's item on the front seat
· Place a personal item in the back Like your phone, briefcase, or purse.
· Center the car seat It's easier to see your child.
· Set up a system with your child care Make and expect calls if your child doesn't arrive as planned.
· Discuss hot-car deaths Especially with grandparents and babysitters.
Posted on August 14th, 2018
*THE DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CSR*
*THE DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CSR* by: Amy Haldorson
What is a CSR? You may see those letters at the bottom of your correspondence from your insurance agency, you may get calls from a CSR and maybe don’t realize exactly who that is. Most agencies have customer service representatives. They are basically there to help in any way they can. I didn't really know what one was until I got into the insurance business. I'm here to give you the raw, uncut version of the day in the life of a CSR. Sounds dramatic doesn't it? My day begins with a giant cup of coffee, it really is crucial to the start of the work day. Actually, the productivity of the work day depends on it. Once coffee is in hand, I can begin my morning ritual. Open email, usually 20-30 have accumulated overnight. A quick scan tells me how many can wait till later and which need immediate attention. Each day I do something called working the downloads, which means, I look in every company we carry and make sure every new document is attached to the appropriate customer. I then let the agent know so they can look them over. This usually takes a while depending on the amount of changes we have had that week. While working between emails and downloads, sprinkle in numerous phone calls. I manage almost all phone calls coming in. Some I pass off, some I handle myself. Being a CSR, you have to be able to handle numerous interruptions and still try to stay some what on task. Along with the calls, I might get a shout from the next room (Michelle) asking me to do a task or an email or text from he who should not be named (boss). These usually take precedence over anything I am working on. Sometimes my desk may look like a tornado. I like to call it organized chaos. Finally lunchtime. I can’t wait to run home, throw laundry in, make lunch for my kids, and hopefully grab something to eat. Maybe someday I can enjoy a quiet lunch in the park-what am I talking about, I’m a mom. After lunch I finish up any anything I haven't gotten to. Next thing to tackle on the list, my inbox. Usually this is filled with documents that need attention. It can be anything from sending out paperwork to clients, paying bills, or attaching to files. Again, phone calls are always coming in. Yet another shout coming from Michelle’s office. This time its just her baby kicking. I better go in there and give her more baby advice. I'm full of information and I'm sure she wants to know. Time to get back to work. I am in charge of all of the agency's social media. I post to Facebook, twitter and Instagram on a weekly basis. Also, throw our agency newsletter into the mix which we do ourselves. I may also have some other marketing project that needs to be done. Marketing is key to add to the success of the business, so we try to do all we can. A welcome distraction of a few of our customers coming throughout the day is also thrown in throughout the day. We love to visit with our customers whenever we have the chance. And it gets me away from the computer. My day is coming to a close. I still have one more important task; birthdays! We acknowledge every customers birthday either by cards or emails. I wish we could throw them all an extravagant party like we do for (she demands) Michelle. As a CSR, my job is to keep the office running smoothly. If I need to drop my work to email or fax something, that’s what I do. If he who should not be named asks me to make call, I make the call. Helping the agents in turn helps bring the best customer service to our customer and that’s our ultimate goal. Finally its quitting time……...I can’t wait to come back and do it all again tomorrow!
Posted on July 24th, 2018