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Business File

Matt Stensland's Business File column appears Sundays in the Steamboat Pilot & Today. Contact him at 871-4210 or e-mail mstensland@steamboatpilot.com

After 24 years in Craig, moving to Grand Junction won't change where Otis and Donna Fleetwood call home.

"Craig will always be our home," Donna, 59, said. "People know you by your first name here. It's a wonderful place to be."

The Fleetwoods have been in business for themselves for about 20 years in Craig. Otis, 79, opened Northwest Pawn Shop as his first business before the couple opened Trinkets, Trash and Treasures some years later.

For the past decade, Trinkets, Trash and Treasures has been a fixture on downtown Yampa Avenue, but that soon will change.

After Aug. 15, the Fleetwoods will move to Grand Junction and close their store, trading what they have for new opportunities.

"I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up, so I went to culinary school in Junction," Donna said. "I've always cooked. We had kids, and I cooked for them, but even then, I didn't know the right way to cook."

Otis said he couldn't be happier for his wife.

"She'll make you a pie there that'll melt in your mouth," he said with a wide grin.

The Fleetwoods plan to be in Grand Junction long enough for Donna to get some real world experience with her craft, but then they want to come home to Craig.

"My ultimate goal is to come back in a couple years and open a restaurant," Donna said. "A family restaurant with pies made from scratch."

While the couple is away, the store at 575 Yampa Ave. is up for rent. Donna said they've had a couple bites on the property so far.

As they prepare to close Trinkets, Trash and Treasures, everything in the store will be 50 percent off until Aug. 15.

Their friends and the customers that came to know them shouldn't be sorry, Otis said.

"We'll be back," he said. "Craig is our home."

Brass Key Realty to offer new rural services

Victoria Burns is looking forward to providing extra services for new and existing clients.

Burns, owner and broker at Brass Key Realty in Craig, recently purchased the United Country Real Estate franchise in Craig, a move she said will help her office provide new, specialized services for local property owners.

Under the business' new moniker, United Country - Brass Key Realty, Ltd., Burns and her staff will offer new marketing possibilities and financial services.

The office will remain at 840 W. Victory Way.

"I'm excited to combine my real estate and marketing experience with the proven benefits of the United Country program," said Burns. "I look forward to providing an outstanding, differentiated level of service to my clients through my partnership with United Country."

According to a news release, United Country boasts the No. 1 rural real estate Web site at www.unitedcountry.com, exclusive national real estate catalogs, national advertising of local properties in hundreds of newspapers and magazines, a private database of more than 300,000 buyers and other programs.

In cooperation with United Country, Brass Key also will offer home warranties, home mortgages, land financing and 1031 tax services among other things.

Call United Country - Brass Key Realty at 824-7086 or email info@brasskey-realty.com for more information. Residents also may visit the business' Web site at www.brasskey-realty.com.

Collin Smith can be reached at 875-1794 or cesmith@craigdailypress.com