SOME STOCKING UP FOR NEW YEAR

Y2K is almost here. Whether you're taking any precautions depends on what you think will or won't happen.

But there are some who aren't taking any chances. They are stocking up on supplies of food, water, medications and cash in case there are a few glitches while entering the 21st century.

For many those supplies have included a personal safe.

Paul Hawkins, store manager of Sears, Roebuck, reports that the sales of safes have skyrocketed. "As soon as we get a supply in, they're gone," said Hawkins.

Lowe's Home Improvement co-manager Tyler Russom said sales of safes have been strong at his store as well. "Safes have sold tremendously for the past several months," Russom said.

Safes are always a good Christmas item, but Lowe's sales of home security items, which include safes, is up 50 percent over last year, he said.

Generators have been the big seller, according to Russom. During September and October generators were selling as fast as the store could get them in, he said. A shipment of 10 to 20 would only last two or three days, he said.

"People were afraid that everybody was going to run out, so they bought early," he said. Sales have still been holding strong with an average of five or six a week over the last several weeks, he said.

Not everyone is ready to invest in the expense of a generator, but other fast sellers prove people in the area are taking precautions.

"Propane fireplaces, batteries and flashlights are selling well," reported Pam Sander of Sander Hardware.

Jim Jensen, a sales clerk for Peters Supply and Hardware at Marble Hill, said the Y2K scare has made generators difficult for them to get. "Suppliers just can't keep up," he said.