Senator Howard Marklein “Hired” by The Station in Belleville
 

Madison, WI – Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) was hired by The Station gas station and convenience store, part of Francois Oil, in Belleville for a Hire Howard job shadow experience on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
 
“I had a great afternoon working at The Station. This was a great place to learn about Belleville and its vibrant community. The convenience store has always been one of the most important hubs of activity in the community, and it was fantastic to see how a small convenience store on Main Street is so important to the people it has served for 85 years,” Senator Marklein said. “I learned about all that goes into getting gas into the tanks of our cars safely. We often do not think of the complexity that goes into safely storing and dispersing fuel. Each fuel storage tank has multiple backups and undergoes frequent testing to ensure that gas does not leak into the environment, spill onto our streets, or mix before going in our cars.”
 
The Station is part of Francois Oil Company, owned by Ed and Rick Francois. The Francois family of companies, which formerly included a Ford Dealership and 17 convenience stores in Southern Wisconsin, has been part of the Belleville community since 1939.
 
At The Station, Senator Marklein learned about the history of the store, helped operate the cash register, visited with employees, and opened up a gas pump to learn about the safeguards against accidents and oil spills. 
 
Senator Howard Marklein has planned several “Hire Howard” job shadow experiences during the summer months. Hire Howard is a way for Senator Marklein to gather first-hand, real life experience and input from the people he serves in many different communities and industries.