Larry Kline
Havre Daily News
lkline@havredailynews.com
Alltel representatives were in Havre on Tuesday to show that the new cellular company in town can be a “good neighbor.”
Kris Allen, Alltel's “good deeds guy,” said he bought breakfast, lunch, gas or groceries for about 300 people in Havre, spending about $10,000 for the day.
“We're not just another wireless company,” he said. “We're trying to be good neighbors.”
Altell, which has locations on First Street West, at the Holiday Village Shopping Center and in the electronics department at Kmart, bought out Cellular One about six months ago, Altell sales manager Dave Woehler said in a phone interview from Helena.
The representatives started by buying breakfast for the morning crowd at PJ's. From there, they visited several beauty salons before heading to the Duck Inn and The Lunch Box to buy meals. They bought groceries at Albertson's before buying fuel for patrons at a gas station.
They gave $2,000 to the Havre Public Schools Education Foundation. HPS Superintendent Kirk Miller said the money will be used to support business and technical programs at Havre High School.
The most common reaction from people: “You're kidding me,” Allen said. He gave each business patron a promotional DVD and paid for their entire bill.
“Most people seem very excited, very happy,” after they realized what was happening, he said.
Angi Bender, a nail technician at Top Hat Salon, said customers on Tuesday morning had their hair cuts and an additional service paid for by Alltel.
“They just paid us all and off they went,” Bender said. “It was amazing.”
Contractor Brad Lotton was eating lunch at the Duck Inn on Tuesday when Allen came to visit.
“He just says ... we're buying your lunch today and we'll take care of the tips too,” Lotton said.
Lotton estimated that Alltel bought meals for 80 to 100 people at the restaurant.
