By Mike Simmons, Staff Writer

EMMONS &8212; With gas prices skyrocketing higher and higher each summer, one of the best ways to save money in the long run is preventative maintenance like checking your oil and tire pressure or seeing that the radiator has enough coolant.

But really, how many of us take the time when we fill up our gas tank to check some of these items that could save us hundreds if not thousands of dollars down the road? What about our children, do they ever check the oil? Would you be willing to pay $1 more per 10 gallons of gas to know that it is being done?

Well that&8217;s where small town gas stations like Lair&8217;s 66 in Emmons, owned and operated by Paul Lair, comes in handy. Lair&8217;s 66 isn&8217;t your typical gas station, it might just be something teenage children don&8217;t realize even existed.

Lair&8217;s 66 is a full-service gas station located just off Highway. 69 in the heart of Emmons. Lair freely admits that he can&8217;t compete with the chain stores&8217; gas prices in Albert Lea. But when it comes to personal service, no one can compete with Lair&8217;s 66.

&8220;I try to be competitive with my gas prices,&8221; Lair said. &8220;I am usually about a dime more than they are in Albert Lea, but you won&8217;t get your oil checked or your tires looked at and you won&8217;t be able to sit in your car while it happens. Here at Lair&8217;s 66, that&8217;s what we do for all our customers.&8221;

Years ago, before all the computerized cars, service stations like Lair&8217;s 66 would have been in the business of giving your car a tuneup. But today a tuneup pretty much consists of keeping the fuel filter clean and changing to a new set of spark plugs at 100,000 miles.

&8220;Tune-ups just aren&8217;t what they used to be,&8221; said Lair. &8220;I don&8217;t mess around with too much repair work. Today that requires computerized equipment and I don&8217;t have that. But I can replace an alternator or a starter, and I can get you about any tire you would like. I do a lot of tire work; a tire jockey is pretty much what I am.&8221;

Lair grew up about five miles outside of Emmons and has never lived anywhere else. As a matter of fact, he just moved his family from the country into the city from the house he was born in. It was the first move of his life. It would be safe to say that Lair has literally known most of his customers all of his life.

Lair has been owner and operator of Lair&8217;s 66 going on 14 years now and he isn&8217;t ready to hang it up anytime soon. Working at Hanson Tire in Albert Lea, Lair had begun thinking about working for himself and had his eye on the little service station in his hometown.

&8220;I told the owners that if they ever want to sell it to let me know,&8221; Lair said. &8220;I had just gotten to the point where I wanted to try my own thing. Then one day they called me and asked if I was still interested, we came to an agreement and here we are.&8221;

According to Lair, he gets a few people just passing through on Highway 69, but the majority of his customers are locals, people that know and trust him. Like the woman who went to Albert Lea to get her car worked on but called Lair first to ask him if it was something she actually needed. At just a couple of extra bucks for a tank full of gas, that kind of advice is a steal.

Convenience is also a big drawing card for Lair&8217;s 66. Paul is there to give his personal touch to every customer from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and even from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday.

For a lot of people living in small towns though, service stations like Lair&8217;s are a reminder and a connection to the past. How many of us grew up in small towns where you could wheel your bike up to the service station on a Saturday afternoon and there was always a Paul Lair there to take care of it? That&8217;s what living in a small town is all about.

One big problem that Lair said he faces though is a common one in many small communities like Emmons, the loss of a business. After losing its school a few years ago, then the lumber yard, and soon the only restaurant there just isn&8217;t much left to bring people to town.

&8220;When I decide I have had enough I hope I can sell it to someone that wants to keep it going,&8221; Lair said. &8220;In my opinion, it would be really sad for the town if it didn&8217;t have this. But I have great customers that I try my hardest to take care of and as long as they support it, I will be here.&8221;

If your travels ever take you through Emmons, The Gateway to Minnesota, swing in and get some full service attention from Paul at Lair&8217;s 66. If it&8217;s pouring down rain or bitter cold, that doesn&8217;t matter. He will fill your tank, check your oil and even clean your windshield. Lair does this seven days a week, all while you stay dry and warm in the comfort of your car. Remember that? *