Dedicated, Involved & Community Minded, These 2 Shine

Most folks that live anywhere on the Hi-line from Browning to Wolf Point have probably at some point travelled through Harlem and stopped at the EZ-Mart on the edge of town. The C-Store is a popular stop for snacks and fuel and home to a pair of very dedicated employees who also happen to be very much involved the community itself. Darby Turntoes and Jerry Wiegand have been employed at EZ-Mart since 1995 and have been loyal supporters of the local community as well.

Darby has always enjoyed his time while working for Doug McCracken at the EZ-Mart and took a moment to look back, "We used to have customer appreciation days where we gave out free food to everybody and that was a really good time." While working at the C-Store Darby was involved in many things. He was a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a Fire fighter and a member of both the Harlem and Fort Belknap Ambulance crews at various times. "We had street dances during the summer and there would be country bands come in and play, and as an EMT we would make sure everyone was safe and had a good time."

"I was an Incident Medical Specialist with Wild land Fire Rescue based out of the smoke jumper school in Missoula. Doug would let me go fight fires in the summer and then I'd come back in the fall. I did that for 16 years. Being an EMT came in handy several times at the store, I had a customer who was anaemic and another that had a seizure, and I was able to treat them on sight and called the ambulance. I served on Fort Belknap Ambulance for 16 years and Harlem Ambulance for five," stated Turnetoes.

Many folks that listen to the radio in the morning have heard Turntoes file the report for the Harlem area and while it seems like he has been doing it for years it really hasn't been as long as you may have thought, "I have done the weather for KPQX in the morning for eight years. I worked a later shift for many years before I started in the morning," said Turntoes. Last Thursday was Turntoes last day on the job for a while, but he is adamant that he will be back, "I'm having shoulder surgery and will be out for about 6-8 weeks, but as soon as I can stand it, I'll be coming back!"

The job is something he truly enjoys, "I still love the job after all these years. Doug is the best person anyone could ever hope to work for, fair, honest, and supportive. Love to see the people every day just having the opportunity to say hello to folks in the morning and getting to know the people through the years. I have seen kids come in holding their mom's hand then go through high school and now they are coming in with their kids," concluded Turntoes.

Jerry Wiegand started his tenure at the EZ-Mart a few years out of high school, "I got started a couple years out of high school, just started refereeing junior high and high school basketball and needed money to do other things. I heard from my aunt who used to work here at the EZ-Mart that they were looking for help so I applied, got hired and have been here ever since." Wiegand has done it all in his time at the store, "Started in the Deli, then moved to Cashier, a short stint in the Casino and then into management."

"I Started refereeing boys and girls basketball in '93 just out of high school then when they switched the volleyball and girls basketball seasons, I needed something to do. I was visiting with Cal Wirtzberger who was doing volleyball at the time and football as well and he mentioned that I should try football, so I've been doing that for the past 22 seasons." Weigand has covered it all through the years, "In that time I have worked junior high and high school boys and girls basketball both varsity and junior varsity, as well as 8-man and 11-man junior high, junior varsity and varsity football."

Weigand's motivation to get into reffing has certainly changed through the years, "Money was certainly a big part at the start but now it's more for the love of the game, that's what it's all about. I love the camaraderie and the kinship with the fellow referees as well as the coaches and the players." Weigand says it's a great avenue for younger kids to get the extra money they need, "We encourage young kids who go to college, especially the bigger ones in Missoula and Bozeman to get into refereeing. It's a great way to make a little extra cash and you can be working every night if you like." There is also a tremendous shortage of Refferees available and that has led to some games being cancelled meaning less opportunity for kids to play.

Weigand said there were only a couple instances that were odd that he has witnessed at the store through the years, "There was a span of a couple of weeks when our Diesel Island was hit by a truck and took it out for a bit, so that it happened twice so close together was unique." He also enjoys when the kids stop in, "It's nice to see the buses from the schools stop every now and then. Malta always stops in, Hays/Lodge Pole does as well and Havre. The kindness and appreciation you here from these schools is always appreciated."

The people make the job enjoyable, "You see countless people every day and you develop friendships. Your regular customers come in and you know what they want. Canadians stop in and visit and tell us what they have in Canada, and they find stuff that they don't normally see, so that is always interesting. Salted nut rolls, spicy peanuts they can't get, so some of things they are interested in surprises you. Other folks stop in from time to time and they know you, you are a familiar face to them and it's pretty cool," concluded Weigand.

The fact that EZ-Mart has a couple employees that have been with the store for nearly 30 years is a testament to the ownership as well as the employees.