Iowans prepared and partied as 1999 came to an end

Iowans apparently stocked up for the worst but also did plenty to celebrate the New Year if sales at Iowa’s largest grocery store chain are any indication. Ruth Mitchell, corporate spokesperson for Hy-Vee, says items were flying off the shelf in the final two weeks of 1999. She says those were the two best weeks of sales in the history of the company.Mitchell said sales of Y-2-K supplies were brisk, but there wasn’t any panic buying. Mitchell says they sold more than 100 truckloads of water over the amount sold in past years.She says sales for traditional party supplies also increased.Mitchell says the Y-2-K bug did not get the best of Hy-Vee and all computers are doing just fine.Hy-Vee has 179 stores in Iowa.