Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 10, 1992                   TAG: 9203100192
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff and wire reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IT'S GOOD FOR GOLF, BAD FOR SNOW-SHOVEL SALES

Each of the past two winters has made the top-10 list of warmest winters compiled by Jan Jackson, meteorological technician at the Roanoke Regional Airport.

This winter is ninth on the list, with temperatures averaging 4 degrees above normal. Jackson compared temperatures between Dec. 1 and the end of February for the past 80 years, which is as far back as the records go.

Along with the warm temperatures, there has been almost no snowfall. Roanoke received 2.2 inches of snow this February, the most snow since December 1989, when 11 inches fell.

These spring-like winters have been great for golfers and boaters, but bad for businesses that depend on colder temperatures and snow.

Shoreline Marina at Smith Mountain Lake has seen an increase in business.

"We've had a lot of activity," general manager Mike Moomaw said. "The first warm day they all want to go boating. They want to get back in action quicker."

But at Northwest True Value hardware store in Roanoke, the nice weather has had its toll on business.

Sales of stove pipes and stove parts, kerosene heaters, snow shovels, sleds and bird feed all have been down, manager David Blount said, and there hasn't been an increase in warm-weather goods such as hoes and rakes to make up for it. The store has not had to reorder snow shovels since the 1990-91 season.

But even though business has been down, Blount said he still has enjoyed the nice weather.

"I like to golf and fish," he said. "If the wind's not blowing and it's sunny and I get a day off, it's better than sitting around."