Cory Zell, an employee of Prenger Implement, Minster, services a snowblower in the shop this week. Sales are slow following a mild winter last year, co-owner Ken Prenger said.

Buzz Goodwin was feeling optimistic as a truckload of snowmobiles arrived at his business Tuesday morning. Last winter Ski-Doo sales were as scarce as snow but this year surely will be different, he said. "Enthusiasm is very . . .