Some areas had measured snowfall in excess of two feet
Winter storm halts activity in county
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Those dreaming of a white Christmas in Ripley County got their wish, along with those who really didn't have to have snow to make their Christmas complete. In some places more than two feet of snow fell between Wednesday, December 22 and Thursday afternoon, December 23.

To cap off the huge amount of snowfall, blowing winds came in on Thursday night, whipping the snow into drifts that measured several feet in some areas. Friday morning, Christmas Eve Day, dawned without precipitation falling, or winds blowing, but the temperatures dipped below zero, freezing everything solid.

The winter weather brought nearly everything in Ripley County to a complete halt, with the exception of emergency vehicles and highway trucks to clear the falling snow from the roadways. Schools that were not already beginning their Christmas break took an extra day on Wednesday, and businesses began to close early as the predicted snowfall began to materialize.

According to Ripley County Sheriff Bill Davison, his department worked throughout the snow emergency. They assisted motorists with 55 slide-off calls, 25 vehicles that were stuck in the snow or broken down, and worked six accidents. When the snow emergency went into place, the sheriff noted that people did adhere to it. "Basically people understood what a snow emergency was and abided by it, and I want to thank them," he noted.

The holidays were put on hold for several officers who gave up vacation and holiday time to assist others. The sheriff said he had four reserve officers as well as full time guys on the roads and jail officers who also assisted.

Versailles Fire Chief Richard Purvis said his department decided to staff the fire station on Wednesday due to the impending snow forecasted to fall in the area. He noted that the fire station had 14 firefighters on station Wednesday night and Thursday, and six available through noon on Friday. He noted that they assisted stranded motorists and helped to re-light many furnace pilot lights that had gone out due to the snow on the roofs covering furnace vents.

Versailles firemen could be found assisting police and EMS units that were stuck or couldn't get around due to the weather. They also helped the town in plowing the streets. Purvis noted that he was appreciative of all the work and dedication the firefighters put forth. He also thanked the wives of the firemen and others who brought food to the firehouse during this time.

Sheriff Davison summed it all up by saying everyone worked together through the snow emergency to keep people safe.

According to Ripley County Commissioner Chuck Folz, a Level I Snow Emergency was declared in Ripley County about 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 22, and that escalated to a Level II Emergency by midnight that same day. A Level II Emergency means the roadways are closed to non-emergency vehicles and personnel.

Travel is prohibited to all motorists with the exception of emergency personnel that include law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical service providers, search and rescue organizations, rescue squads, military organizations, disaster relief organizations, emergency management personnel and required mutual aid, as well as critical occupations personnel such as employees of utility companies, highway departments, towing and wrecker services, fuel delivery suppliers, news media and hospital and healthcare organizations.

Everyone else is asked to stay put.

Folz noted that county highway workers have been working non-stop since the snow began falling and have nearly all the county roads passable with at least one lane open. They worked full force during the days, from Wednesday through Sunday, with a skeleton crew at night to escort emergency services. Council member Donald Dunbar said there was seven tons of snow per mile on the roadways.

Although on Monday morning Folz said there were maybe seven or eight roads that hadn't been hit, county crews had been working hard and had begun on those in the early hours of December 27. Folz said the county's supply of salt and cinders is in good shape, and they have another order on the way. He and Commissioner Robert Reiners have been manning the phones and staying on station at the county garage throughout the ordeal. "We're trying to keep the expense to a minimum and still get the job done," he told the Osgood Journal on Monday morning.

Folz said he is hoping for disaster relief money from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to offset the cost of the biggest winter storm to hit the area in quite a few years.

The old adage that the U.S. Postal Service will prevail through snow, sleet and hail...didn't hold up last Thursday as most of the post offices in the area weren't delivering the
mail. "Our workers couldn't get in to the office, the delivery truck couldn't get the mail to us...it just wasn't happening last Thursday," noted PTF Clerk Steve Huntington of the Osgood Post Office.

People in Ripley County also saw limited mail service on Friday of last week. "We made some deliveries of medicine and some in-town places we could get to," Huntington noted. Then of course, Saturday was Christmas and the post offices were closed for the holiday. "We're really busy this morning," said Huntington on Monday morning, December 27, as they were scurrying to get three days of mail to people.

The winter weather played havoc on roofs as George Moore of Holton can attest. The roof of his business, Moore's Wrecker Service, collapsed underneath the weight of the snow. He was waiting for his insurance adjuster on Monday morning. A side porch at the home of Willie and Carrol Taylor of Holton collapsed as well, not able to withstand the heavy snow that fell. "We're all okay and it could be worse," noted Carrol on Christmas Day, as she said they were counting their blessings it wasn't the roof on the house.

The first snow of the season proved to be the worst that people in Ripley County have seen for several years. The general consensus after four days was they don't care if they ever see snow in that amount again anytime soon.

GARA BURNETT AND WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTOS

Even a state highway like US 50 just west of Holton, was still snow covered with only tracks of other motorists leaving a path on Thursday afternoon, December 23. The treacherous roadways were beginning to be cleared later that day. At left is winter beauty as the big Weeping Willow tree on Versailles Street in Holton was adorned with snow and ice still on Monday, December 27. The big snowfall began December 22, and fell through the day on Thursday, December 23, bringing a definite white Christmas to Ripley County.