Happy Memorial Day!

How are you planning to celebrate/ honor Memorial Day weekend?  Is the holiday a chance to barbeque and hang with friends, or is it a more solemn occasion as you remember a loved one?  Share with us!

But no matter how you choose to spend your weekend, we want you to stay safe.  Here are some tips for grill safety this weekend:

• Keep food covered or refrigerated until ready to be cooked.  Cook meat to 170 degrees Farenheit as a minimum. 
• Cooking (by any method) of meats (particularly red meat and chicken) at very high temperatures until surface charring occurs can cause cancer causing substances (Heterocyclic Amines (HCA)) to form.   To avoid this, use marinades and turn frequently.
• Inspect your grill before you ignite to ensure everything is in working order.
• Don't use a grill indoors including garages, overhangs and canopies.
• When using a grill, you should use a 10-foot perimeter from anything combustible, including your house.
• Do not allow children and pets to play near a grill.
• Only use approved ignition fluids – don't use gasoline to ignite a grill.
• Keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose or bucket of sand nearby to douse a grill fire.

These tips are from: http://bbq.about.com/od/grillinghelp/tp/grillsafety.htm

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Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) Names Grand Cherokee 2011 Northwest Sport Utility of the Year.

 

Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) Names Grand Cherokee 2011 Northwest Sport Utility of the Year.

As explained by Jeffrey Zurschmeide, president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA), his part of the country presents a tough challenge for most SUVs: “In the Pacific Northwest, we can go from rain-soaked city streets up to the snowy mountains in about an hour. … So we look for an SUV that’s comfortable and capable in all kinds of situations.”

It’s a particularly notable honor, because NWAPA members don’t try to base their decisions on separate test drives that might have occurred weeks or months in the past. Instead, the group brought 20 of today’s top SUVs and crossovers to Snoqualmie, Wash., for a grueling one-day evaluation of the vehicles’ hill-climbing and descent abilities, ride comfort, low-range handling, stability handling, emergency braking maneuvers and more—all areas in which the new Grand Cherokee excels, thanks to its comprehensive redesign for the current model year. Today’s Grand Cherokee offers three 4×4 systems, the new Jeep Selec-Terrain system with five different terrain settings, an advanced air-suspension system, improved fuel economy, a world-class interior, and more than 45 safety and security features, and it’s all wrapped up by eye-catching new sheet metal.

“The Pacific Northwest provides perhaps the widest variety of driving conditions in the country, so it’s a perfect place for all of the driving attributes of the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee,” said Mike Manley, president and CEO of Jeep. “We’re especially pleased that the NWAPA’s journalist members recognize Grand Cherokee’s comfort and capability in all weather conditions, both on- and off-road.”

Read more: http://www.jeepinthenews.com/jeep-grand-cherokee-is-the-northwests-new-winner/#more-359

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Jeep Grand Cherokee Given SUV Of The Year Award In Denver

Jeep Grand Cherokee Given SUV Of The Year Award In Denver.

 

 

The new Jeep flagship bested 25 other eligible vehicles by ringing up top scores in the RMAP’s evaluations of performance, comfort, safety, fuel economy and value. Specific highlights of the Grand Cherokee that earned acclaim from the judges included its comfort on the road, its toughness off the road and its impressive quality everywhere.

“It takes a very exceptional vehicle indeed to master both the plains and mountains of the Rocky Mountain West and I’m thrilled that the journalists of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press have voted the new and innovative Jeep Grand Cherokee our 2011 SUV of the year,” said Roman Mica, president of RMAP.

“The climate, terrain and active lifestyle of Colorado creates the perfect environment for the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee to showcase its go-anywhere capability,” said Mike Manley, Jeep’s president and CEO. “We are delighted that these prominent Rocky Mountain automotive journalists have recognized the capability, comfort, craftsmanship and refinement of our new premium Jeep SUV.”

Read more: http://www.jeepinthenews.com/jeep-grand-cherokee-claims-suv-of-the-year-award-in-denver/#more-348

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Chrysler To Repay Government Loans

Chrysler will begin to repay Government Loans that it received a few years ago.

According to a source from the Associated Press, Chrysler will repay the money borrowed from the government. “A person briefed on the matter” announced today that the company will repay the government loans they received in the bailouts a few years ago. The loan carried interest rates of 12% per year. After months of refinancing and researching solutions, the loans can now be paid off.

The company’s refinancing allows them to repay $5 billion to the US government and $1.6 billion to the Canadian government. Ridding themselves from the impressive amount of debt begins a new chapter for the company and a fresh start for executives. Consumer popularity is also likely to increase since previous loyal consumers resented the bailout. With everything now paid in full, Chrysler can continue to make progress and add models to their award winning fleet.

Read more: http://www.chryslerinthenews.com/chrysler-no-longer-dependent-on-government-loans/

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