Roseau Times-Region - Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper

The first flat tire I changed was on my sister Barbara's car. We worked at the Runway Café in Ottumwa, Iowa; Barb was the manager, and I worked for her. Barb was going to run into the bank to get change. It was cold outside, so she started her car and let it warm up. She came back inside with a frustrated look on her face. "My car has a flat tire," she said. "Can you go change it for me?" I was only 15 years old at the time.

"I've never changed a flat tire, but I've seen it done before," I said. "I'll bet I can figure it out." Barbara drove a 1971 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight, a big, two-door luxur...