Car Insurance 101

We all have or should have Auto Insurance on our vehicles….but who reads the whole policy or the fine print. Do you know what you’re paying for or what you need? These are automobile insurance basics aka Car Insurance 101.

Liability Policy – This is the coverage that is paid if you are at fault in a traffic accident. If the damage is more than you are insured for, the other driver can sue you personally.

Collision Coverage – This pays for repairs or replacement of your own vehicle if you are at fault in an accident.

Comprehensive Coverage – Is similar to collision coverage but also covers damages by vandalism and “acts of God”.

Theft Policies – Reimburses you for replacing your vehicle or parts in the event some piece of it was stolen.

No Fault – Covers drivers for their own medical expenses regardless of who is at fault. Not in effect in all states and has limitations on lawsuits.

If you need insurance or want to be sure you are covered don’t just wonder about it, do something! If you want to evaluate insurance companies to get the best policy for you, its as simple as a click…..Auto Insurance ME

Cabela's....paradise for sportsmen

I love to fish! When I was growing up, my folks and I would make our annual pilgrimage from Nebraska to Minnesota for two weeks of fishing bliss. We stayed at resorts on Leech Lake, Woman Lake and finally Ten Mile Lake. Dad loved to fish for northern pike and I was "hooked" on casting for bass....Mom preferred to sit in the middle of the boat, secure in her life preserver jacket and troll for anything with fins.

We lived in Nebraska, not exactly a fisherman's paradise. At that time (1950) the only tackle stores in the vicinity were Sears Roebuck or Montgomery Ward. But, no more!

Cabela's has built a mega store on the outskirts of Omaha....a place of awe and wonder! Need a boat, Cabela's has it, how about a tent camper, its there. Fishing gear, guns, camping supplies you name it...you'll find it.

Any lure you can imagine has a home at Cabela's....even some that are so big you wonder what fish would even DARE to attack it. They even carry products that are considered "green"...line, weights, hooks and lures that dissolve after a period of time.

Dad and mom have been gone for many years, but whenever I enter the Cabela's store, I wonder what my Dad would think of it...no I don't have to wonder, I know....he'd be speechless.

Check out Cabela's for yourself...if you need it for outdoor fun, its probably on a shelf waiting for you!

Our Conifer Pine Tree is sick...

We are losing the 30' conifer pine which has lived in our yard for over 50 years. It has been diagnosed as having a fungus, Diplodia pinea which is most damaging to pine species native to our home state, Nebraska. Our pine is dying branch by branch, turning brown starting from the trunk and spreading to the outer branches.

The most noticable symptom of diplodia blight is brown, stunted new growth resulting in short brown needles. They look dead. Although the tree, from what we were told, had probably been infected for several years, we attributed the dead lower branches to winter damage. Nebraska has winters of very cold weather, then rising temperatures, followed by severe cold snaps. Last year was particularly bad...again, we thought the tree was slow in recovering.

In driving around our neighorhood, I've seen many, many pine trees in the same condition or worse. Some are skeletons, bare branches with no needles at all. We had been told that this fungus was working it's way from the east coast, but paid no attention to the warnings...hopefully its not too late to save our beautiful pine.

An Extension Agent from the University of Nebraska is coming to look at it, and give whatever advice he has to offer....can it be saved of will it need to be cut down.

Now What! A clogged kitchen Sink!!!

Ever have a clogged pipe, kitchen drain or other extremely important plumbing fixture stop working? First thing you do is get out the ole “plumbers friend” the plunger. (if you have one) It usually works on the important fixture in the bathroom, but doesn’t solve the problem. So, you revert to another tried and true method, the dreaded drain cleaner, Drano, lye or another commercial product.

And where does this poisonous super cocktail mixture eventually end up…in your local water supply or your septic system and eventually your own water supply.

We use a product called Bio-Clean to keep our drains clear…it’s a blend of bacteria and enzymes, a natural product.

Its non-poisonous, creates no heat, fumes or boiling. It doesn’t attack live tissue nor inorganic materials, only organic wastes like grease, hair, food particles, paper, cotton and sewage. This makes Bio-Clean safe for people, plumbing, and the environment. It changes the waste particles into water, carbon dioxide and mineral ash which run harmlessly out of your waste system and into the city sewage system.

Every little bit that we do to help the environment helps us.

SAFE Green fishing gear -- help our planet

S.A.F.E Green fishing gear ...no, its not green in color, but using it will keep the planet green.

Why do you care about using fishing gear that is environmentally safe? You only fish a few times a year and many times you return your fish to the lake....no matter that it's mouth is so badly damaged from your hook that it will probably die anyway. And those wiggly, squishy plastic worms...they won't do any harm

Do you want your children and grandchildren to enjoy hunting and fishing in years to come? Think about these facts.

When lead sinkers are lost through broken fishing lines or other means, they kill birds and fish...it's as simple as that. Loons, swans, ducks and geese eat them expecting them to be FOOD, and are poisoned. Eagles and other birds ingest lead by eating fish that have swallowed lead pellets. Maybe you or your family will eat one of those fish.....how do you think your body will react?

Plastic worms don't break down and often cause blockages in the intestines leading to a fish's death. Estimates suggest that soft plastic fishing lures and worms are responsible for as much as 20 million pounds of plastic left in fishing waters every year. (do you remember that torn plastic worm you tossed into the lake?...it's still there)

Try these alternatives......

• Tru-Turn J-Hooks .

These "cam-action" hooks do a great job of hooking fish on the outside of the mouth. The long shank makes it easier to remove the hook. Just use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pinch down the barbs on the hooks. You’ll catch fish and it will make it easier to take them off the hook.

• Daiichi Circle Hooks (2 sizes)

Circle hooks are a great choice for fishing with live or dead bait for larger fish like bass, catfish, walleye, pike or saltwater species. You don’t set the hook - the unique shape of these hooks automatically catches in the corner of the fish’s mouth almost every time to make for easier release, and eliminating deep "gut hooking" of the fish.

• Water Gremlin and Bullet Weights Tin Split Shot (4 sizes)

Water Gremlin and Bullet Weights are tin split shot that is pinched onto your line. The "wings" on each weight allow them to be removed and reused. Tin is an inexpensive alternative to lead, which is toxic....tin is not.

• Dr. Drop weights (3 sizes)

Dr. Drop weights are also lead alternatives which use heavier non-toxic metals. You ‘weave’ these onto your line, which eliminates pinching or crimping the line. Their shape helps them slide past snags underwater.

• Bullet Weights worm weights (2 sizes)

Bullet Weights worm weights slide on your line, and are put on before adding the hook. Fish won’t feel the weight when they pick up the bait, and the bullet shape slides through snags. You can put it above a split shot to add more weight and keep it away from the bait, or let it slide right down to your hook.

• Northland Nature Jigs (3 sizes)

Northland Fishing Tackle makes many alternative jig heads.
A jig head helps prevent fish from swallowing the hook - something many fish are notorious for doing. There are countless molded baits designed to be placed onto a jig head.

• FoodSource Lures earthworms or mealworms

FoodSource Lures makes biodegradable molded baits to use instead of traditional soft plastic lures. FoodSource lures are molded protein, so not only do they catch more fish than plastic lures, they are biodegradable and digestible. Plus, they are easier to keep than live bait.

• Wooden float bobbers

Wooden bobbers are a biodegradable alternative to plastic bobbers. These floats will last a lifetime, but eventually break down which is better for the environment. Plus, because they float upright, it’s much easier to detect the bite of fish who take the bait from the bottom. The wood float will lay on its side, letting you know that a fish has hit from below.

• Bioline Biodegradable Fishing Line

Bioline Biofilament is a 100% biodegradable fishing line; the environmentally friendly alternative to monofilament and fluorocarbon fishing line. It is made out of biodegradable polymers which are not only eco-friendly, but also allow Bioline fishing line to retain 100% of it's strength for a period of 10-12 months on your spool. It can be purchased in line strength from 4 lb to 20 lb., has low visibility since it is clear, has high UV and abrasion resistance, excellent knot strength and superior casting distance.

Bioline biodegradable fishing line breaks down naturally in the environment in approximately 5 years (compared to up to 500 years with monofilament line) and is comparable in performance to conventional fishing lines.

YES! you can make a difference!