HAYDEN - Warming up to the cold weather, Tom Paschane just can't wait.

Paschane said Wednesday that the Chevron gas station on the northeast corner of Honeysuckle Avenue and U.S. 95 will offer full service starting Monday, Oct. 14, not Nov. 1 as originally planned.

Also, Paschane said Wednesday, the station will provide full service six mornings a week - every Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, all the way through March.

"It's starting to get cold on people," said Paschane, who oversees four North Idaho gas stations - two Chevrons, a Mobil and a Conoco. "We're more likely to truly help people if we offer this in the morning."

Paschane made headlines in mid-September when he responded to a letter to the editor from Hayden Lake resident Marion Walker, 89. Walker, a former professional race car driver, had issued a plea on behalf of senior citizens for help at the gas pumps during winter months.

Paschane's pledge to offer full-service to all customers - pumping gas, cleaning windshields and topping off windshield fluid reservoirs - was noticed outside North Idaho, too.

Paschane said The Press story was picked up by fuel trade publications, including one that called him three days after The Press story was published. That publication's representative said they'll track the Chevron station's success and, if it does well, do its own follow-up story.

"What a change that could be," Paschane said of the impact a local full-service success story might have regionally or even nationally - and not just for the elderly, but for the disabled and for motorists like young mothers with small children in the car.

Paschane said "there was a true need long ago" but service station owners went to self-serve because of cost.

"That doesn't mean it's what people wanted," he said.

Locally, he said reaction from The Press story has resulted in a flood of phone calls and personal visits to the Hayden station - all helping him decide to offer full service earlier and more often. He recounted the story of one gentleman and his wife who stopped by after reading the story.

"He said, 'We've never been to this station before. . . but for what you've offered to do for us people, I can guarantee one thing: My wife and I are coming here forever,'" Paschane recalled.

Paschane said the power of testimonials like that were all the encouragement he needed.

"It was more than convincing that what we're offering is what people need," he said. "I'm not just offering a service here; I'm filling a need."

Fill 'em up

The Chevron station in Hayden is the first to offer full service this winter, but that doesn't mean it must be the only one. The Press will publish weekly reminders through the winter of all stations in Kootenai County that offer full service to their customers, even if it's only on certain days and at certain times. If your station wants to join the fun, contact Mike Patrick at The Press: 664-0227