photo by: Joselyn King
Lara Graves, owner of Whisk Bakery and Catering, pauses during a busy morning of business.
WHEELING – Trees were down and power was out following storms early Tuesday, and that meant local residents were in need of some basic things.
Some wanted coffee they couldn’t make at home. Others were in need of oil for the chainsaw they would use to clear limbs off their property.
While much of Elm Grove, Springdale, Dimmeydale and one end of Woodsdale were without power, some businesses along National Road had electricity and were open for business.
A customer could be seen walking out of Whisk Bakery and Catering with a cupcake in one hand, and a cup of coffee in the other.
“We offer coffee, lunch and special treats, and business is starting to pick up,” owner Lara Graves said.
She said Whisk was “really lucky” to have electricity, as her other business, Elle and Jack’s restaurant in downtown Wheeling, was without power.
The lack of power is a major concern for food establishments needing to keep meat and other perishable items at safe temperatures.
Graves said her meat vendor, Jacob and Sons, was quick to call her and ask, “How can we help?”
The wholesaler agreed to store many of their items for them until power was restored.
Nearby Lou Nau Hardware saw a surge in business Tuesday morning.
Employee Bob Willming said there were many customers coming in to buy chainsaws, chainsaw oil, gas cans, flashlights and batteries.
The customers told him stories of trees down in Elm Grove and the road leading up to Wheeling Park High School.
photo by: Joselyn King
Many local residents without electricity Tuesday morning took to heart the sign at the Bob Evans restaurant in Woodsdale. The restaurant was open as power was out in many nearby areas.
Up the road, the parking lot at Bob Evans restaurant on National Road was packed, and people waited to be seated.
One of them was Pat Bellville, a resident of G.W. Petroplus Towers in Wheeling. Bellville said all 160 apartments in the building were without power.
She did, however, get her morning coffee.
The senior high rise facility is equipped with a portable generator to assist residents who are on oxygen when there is a power outage. With help from the generator, an employee was able to brew small pots of coffee for the residents.
Also at Bob Evans was Michael Hires, director of annual giving and Communications for the Oglebay Foundation.
He reported that while Speidel Golf Course and the Route 88 BBQ and Brew were without power, lights were on at Wilson Lodge and in the Hilltop shops.
His friend, Jay Frey, suspected American Electric Power crews were “going to have its hands full” in the coming days as they worked to restore power.
“The power outage is huge,” he said. “My terrace is a mess, and we’ve lost half of a lilac tree.”
But Frey said he is not planning to do any clean-up until the weather has stabilized.
Summer school sessions had to be called off at Wheeling Park High School Tuesday, said Ohio County Schools superintendent Kim Miller. Roads leading up to the school were especially hard hit by the storm.
Trees were down at the entrance to WPHS.
“We’re very grateful to our maintenance department,” she said. “They were out at 6 a.m., cutting trees and taking care of our facilities.”
She wasn’t certain as of Tuesday afternoon whether summer school would have to be canceled again on Wednesday.
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