Area braces for Winter Storm Stella

WILKES-BARRE — Among St. Patrick’s Day and spring window decals, Billy Norton added sleds of all shapes and colors to the shelves at Main Hardware True Value on Monday.

With the area expected to get up to 20 inches of snow starting late Monday night, Main Hardware was just one of many businesses scrambling to meet the demand of customers bracing for Winter Storm Stella.

Norton’s boss, Larry Stierwalt, said the biggest task of his employees is to “keep the store full.”

The store had just over a dozen shovels left, but bags of rock salt were piled high.

“We have a warehouse down the street,” Stierwalt said about the ability to keep shelves stocked. “We do a lot of commercial business.”

A mild winter and a few false alarms earlier in the season made the rush to prepare for this storm all the more “crazy,” Stierwalt said

“People are buying two bags of (rock) salt, instead of one,” he said.

Across the street from the Main Street store, dozens of people grabbed supplies at Schiel’s Family Market as store employees were busy keeping the milk and eggs in the dairy aisle.

“We received our truck,” said Robbie Paul, store operations manager, noting Schiel’s was fortunate because other stores were running low on the snow-storm staples.

Price Chopper in Edwardsville had a limited supply milk in its dairy cases as of 5 p.m. Monday.

Danielle Schuckers, of Plymouth, brought her three children out to the store to pick up some items, including fish sticks.

“We picked up bread, juice, milk and produce,” Schuckers noted.

The kids were more excited about the potential for a day off from school than they were about grocery shopping with their mother.

“I’m not so happy,” Danielle said, “I don’t like snow.”

“I’m excited for the lack of school,” daughter Kaylee Schawb, 11, said.

Schuckers said the family’s snow blower broke, so she and her husband will be stuck shoveling, while the children play.

“I will make snow balls,” Kaylee said.

Carol Maciolek and Helen King, both of Wilkes-Barre, were taken aback by the amount of people in the store.

“It’s crazy,” King said.

The ladies weren’t shopping for Bisquick to make Maciolek’s quiche.

“I actually forgot something at another store,” she admitted.

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Employee Billy Norton unwraps a sled at the Main Hardware True Value hardware store Monday on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031417Snow1.jpg.optimal.jpgEmployee Billy Norton unwraps a sled at the Main Hardware True Value hardware store Monday on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Craig, an employee at Schiel’s Family Market in Wilkes-Barre, restocks milk on the store’s shelves.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031417Snow2.jpg.optimal.jpgCraig, an employee at Schiel’s Family Market in Wilkes-Barre, restocks milk on the store’s shelves. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Elijah Schuckers, 3, Noah Schuckers, 4, and Kaylee Schwab, 11, wait for their mother to pick up some groceries at Schiel’s on Monday in preparation for the expected snowfall.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031417snow3.jpg.optimal.jpgElijah Schuckers, 3, Noah Schuckers, 4, and Kaylee Schwab, 11, wait for their mother to pick up some groceries at Schiel’s on Monday in preparation for the expected snowfall. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Chad Oliver prepares a salt mix for trucks this evening, in preparation for the storm supposed to begin at 12. 3/13/2017 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL031417Salt1.jpg.optimal.jpgChad Oliver prepares a salt mix for trucks this evening, in preparation for the storm supposed to begin at 12. 3/13/2017 Aimee Dilger|Times LeaderAimee Dilger | Times Leader