MONROE - Wal-Mart Manager Ron Fager is used to getting called at home by the Monroe Police Department for an unlocked door or an alarm of some kind.
But Wednesday's phone call about the sprinkler system from Fire Chief Daryl Rausch was out of the ordinary.
Fager received the call at about 8 p.m. to come down to the store. What he found when he arrived was part of the roof on the northeast side of the building, where gardening supplies are stored, was caved in slightly.
The damage was minimal, considering what went through Fager's mind when he received the phone call.
"I thought there might be water on the floor in other parts of the store," he said.
Instead, he found part of the roof held up by the many bags of charcoal that are stored in that section of the building.
The water in that part of the building was turned off, he said.
"The sprinklers in the rest of the building are working," he added. "I want people to know there's no problem with that."
Fager regularly checks the weight of snow on the roof, but Wednesday's wind and the snow combined to damage to roof, he said.
He expects the roof to be repaired by early next week and the sprinkler water pipe soon will be replaced as well.
The damage wasn't enough to affect people who came out to find after-Christmas bargains this morning.
People lined up in front of the store by the time doors opened at 7 a.m., employee Sharrie Ellsworth said.
"I was surprised to see so many people waiting," she said.
Fager said the day after Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year, as people come in to find deals on Christmas trees, wrapping paper and candy.
"By this afternoon the (parking) lot will be full," he said. "It will look like the day after Thanksgiving."
Wal-Mart employees were at work by 5 a.m. to mark down items on the shelves.
"This is the thrill of the hunt for the best bargains," Fager joked as people shopped.
In the past, store employees might take two or three days handling returns from shoppers but that's changed as more people purchase gift cards, Fager said.
But Wednesday's phone call about the sprinkler system from Fire Chief Daryl Rausch was out of the ordinary.
Fager received the call at about 8 p.m. to come down to the store. What he found when he arrived was part of the roof on the northeast side of the building, where gardening supplies are stored, was caved in slightly.
The damage was minimal, considering what went through Fager's mind when he received the phone call.
"I thought there might be water on the floor in other parts of the store," he said.
Instead, he found part of the roof held up by the many bags of charcoal that are stored in that section of the building.
The water in that part of the building was turned off, he said.
"The sprinklers in the rest of the building are working," he added. "I want people to know there's no problem with that."
Fager regularly checks the weight of snow on the roof, but Wednesday's wind and the snow combined to damage to roof, he said.
He expects the roof to be repaired by early next week and the sprinkler water pipe soon will be replaced as well.
The damage wasn't enough to affect people who came out to find after-Christmas bargains this morning.
People lined up in front of the store by the time doors opened at 7 a.m., employee Sharrie Ellsworth said.
"I was surprised to see so many people waiting," she said.
Fager said the day after Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year, as people come in to find deals on Christmas trees, wrapping paper and candy.
"By this afternoon the (parking) lot will be full," he said. "It will look like the day after Thanksgiving."
Wal-Mart employees were at work by 5 a.m. to mark down items on the shelves.
"This is the thrill of the hunt for the best bargains," Fager joked as people shopped.
In the past, store employees might take two or three days handling returns from shoppers but that's changed as more people purchase gift cards, Fager said.