Although many businesses will be open this holiday weekend, it might be best to call ahead first, retailers say.

Thursday, December 30, 1999

Although many businesses will be open this holiday weekend, it might be best to call ahead first, retailers say.

Shopping New Year’s Day will be easier than on Christmas Day. Many stores will be open but some will have limited hours.

Big Lots will close early Friday and Saturday. The store will only be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. New Year’s Day.

Ames Department Store will close early Friday. The store will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., but will reopen at 9 a.m. Saturday with normal business hours.

Wal-Mart also will close early Friday – at 6 p.m. – but will have normal hours Saturday.

And if consumers are low on funds, getting money for shopping in the new year will be relatively simple with a little planning ahead.

First Federal Savings Bank of Ironton will be until open 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve. The bank’s office will be closed Saturday, however.

Liberty Federal Savings and Loan Association will stay open until 6 p.m., as well. Their offices will not be affected by the holiday because they normally close Saturdays.

Lawrence Federal Savings Bank is open until 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve, but won’t be open at all Saturday.

Lincoln Saving and Loan Association will function under normal business hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The offices will be closed Saturday.

National City Bank’s lobby will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Their drive-thru will remain open until 6 p.m. as usual, though. The bank is closed Saturday.

Ohio River Bank will open under limited business hours Friday. The bank will close at 1 p.m. New Year’s Eve and remain closed until Monday morning.

Firstar Bank is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and will be closed Saturday.

If unexpected company arrives New Year’s Day, buying an extra head of cabbage should not be a problem.

Arabia Pit Stop, Bartram and Son Grocery, Dickess Market, Forth’s Foodfair Lambert’s Market, Phillips’, Grocery, R and R Grocery and Carryout, Short List Grocery and Carryout, SuperAmerica, Tipton’s Foodland and Bakery and University Mart will operate under normal business hours during the holiday.

McCarty’s Grocery on Ohio 141 will be closed New Year’s Day, but will be open New Year’s Eve.

Normally open 24 hours a day, Pick ‘N Save Foods will close at 8 p.m. Friday, and reopen at 7 a.m. Saturday.

Anyone who wants to take care of village business before the New Year, should make it to their town hall by Thursday, however.

All village and city offices, including Coal Grove, Hanging Rock, South Point, Ironton, Proctorville and Chesapeake will be closed Friday in observance of the New Year’s holiday.

All will reopen Monday.

Garbage services for Coal Grove, Hanging Rock, South Point, Ironton and those serviced by Rumpke Waste Inc. will run on schedule this holiday season.

Required to schedule organizational meetings within the first two weeks of the new year, many government officials have altered their public meeting dates.

Coal Grove will have its organizational meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday at the town hall. The new mayor will be sworn in and council members will select their meeting dates for the new year.

Hanging Rock will have its organizational and regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the town hall.

South Point’s first meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the town hall.

Ironton City Council meetings will remain unchanged. They are the second and fourth Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. in the council chambers.

Proctorville Village Council members will have their first meeting of the new year at 7 p.m. Monday at the town hall.

Chesapeake Village Council members will have their first meeting of the new year at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the town hall.