McCleary's Conoco and Propane

Twenty-five years ago, in 1997, the Conoco gas station on Main Street opened. The owners, Terry and Denise (McCleary)Watson have employed local folks, and provided a consistent product for the community.

The cost of energy has gone up and down many times during those twenty-five years, but never as high as in the last two years. The higher fuel costs have not slowed business for the little station though. The small convenient center and deli have gone strong from day one, to the point of Tic-Tok and Facebook fame. One Tic-Tok video boasts about the Conoco Chicken and Swiss Sandwich, and one Facebook post shows a picture of a breakfast burrito and states "If you know, you know" under which many comments were simply "Roundup Conoco".

McCleary's long time employee, Dee, started working at the Conoco six months after the business opened. Juana Jones started sixteen years ago, Kim Anderson, eleven years ago, Cassie, seven years ago, Amy Devine three and a half years ago, and Ashley Craig started this summer. The crew are very happy with the work and their employers. They enjoy the customers, and though sometimes they even get blamed for the snow, they dish back to the customers, and everyone leaves with a smile.

After opening the Conoco, Terry and Denise purchased the Propane business ten years later from Denise's father Tom McCleary. Denise is the secretary at the propane office, her husband Terry drives the transport truck, and Dave Rutan, Sam and Ben Watkins, and Virgin Merfield are all employed with McCleary's Propane.

The long-standing business is another pillar in our community. The business is dependable, and the food is consistently good. It is fortunate to have two grocery stores and two fuel stations in such a small community. Hopefully all our local businesses are able to continue to not only survive, but thrive through all the good and bad economies.