New Year's Eve is often a time for celebration.

This year, however, with concerns about possible Y2K problems, local residents are taking the time to be prepared for whatever may happen.

From kerosene heaters and bottled water to guns and ammunition, local businesses have seen people buying up supplies in varying degrees.

Howard Shoemaker, of Albertson's Sport Shop, said he has seen an increase in gun and ammunition sales to a degree. "There hasn't been a big run. We haven't had people come in especially for that."

He said gun sales are pretty steady every year, whether because of new gun control legislation or Y2K concerns.

"Clinton is the No. 1 gun salesman," he said.

Several people, he said, have bought cases of 7.62 x 39 ammunition. However, cases of MREs are still sitting in the store.

"Evidently," he said, "that stuff isn't in big demand around here."

He said if people aren't buying their first gun, they are buying a second firearm, but they're not "going nuts."

At Little Hawks Knives & Collectibles, Earl Howard said, "In about the last month, we haven't seen a lot of gun sales due to Y2K. Prior to that, we've seen more gun sales, especially with assault-type guns."

He said people are stocking up on ammunition and firearms. If anything should happen where guns become necessary, the dawning of the millennium is the time for something to happen, he said.

"This Y2K thing, people have been getting prepared for six to seven months," he said.

Shelly Tennant, night manager for Tractor Supply Co., said generators aren't exactly flying off the shelves. "This time last year, we had more people than this year" buying generators, she said.

She estimated that they are selling only two or three generators a week, at most. "Most of the people already have their stuff ready. They bought it last year."

One item she said has sold out out until next fall is kerosene heaters. She said she has heard that other stores are out of the heaters, too.

She also said sales of pet supplies have not increased more than normal.

Ace Hardware store manager and owner Butch Schapson, Warsaw, said the higher priced items like generators sold a month or more ago. Now, people are buying last-minute items.

"We've sold probably five times the kerosene items last week than all of the last two years," he said.

Kerosene heaters, flashlights, oil lamps, candles, camping lanterns, Coleman fuel for lanterns, artificial logs, matches, lighters and distilled water are the most common items being requested, he said.

"We feel nothing's going to happen," he said, "but it doesn't help when the governor is telling everyone to prepare for it like an Indiana winter."

Last week, one woman bought three shopping carts full of anything that may go out of stock after the new millennium hits, he said.

"They all say they know nothing is going to happen, but they just want to be prepared," he said.

Phil White, co-owner with his brother Rick White of Culligan Water Conditioning of Warsaw, said, "There seems to be a big rush for bottled water."

He said if people aren't buying bottled water, they are asking if it will be available should something happen.

"They just want to know if something happens, if we will have it," he said.

Because of the strict guidelines Culligan Water Co. has on their bottled water, White said, they have a limited supply. "It's as pure a water as man can make," he said.

Several hundred bottles are reserved for Kosciusko Community Hospital and local retirement and nursing homes. Should there be a water problem on New Year's Day, White said, the health care facilities and Culligan's customers will be taken care of first.

But, White said, he is pretty optimistic about Y2K. "I don't foresee any particular problem." [[In-content Ad]]