Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Mother Nature dropped anywhere from six to 16 inches of snow on the tri-state area nearly bringing everything to a halt over the weekend.

Just as meteorologists predicted, the snow began falling Friday morning, March 7 causing area schools to dismiss early. Many businesses followed suit.

Ripley County Commissioners declared a Level I Snow Emergency Friday afternoon, but it was soon followed by a Level II, the highest level of warning the county has established.

In a Level II emergency, “all roadways are closed to non-emergency vehicles and personnel.” But, who is exempt? The ordinance reads, “Emergency Personnel: including members of law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency medical service providers, search and rescue organizations, rescue squads, military organizations, disaster relief organizations, emergency management personnel land required mutual aid personnel. Critical Occupations Personnel: including employees of utility companies, highway departments, towing and wrecker services, fuel delivery suppliers, news media and hospital and health care organizations.” Everyone else should stay home!

The Level II emergency continued until about 1:15 p.m. Sunday, March 9 when road crews were finally able to get the roads in better condition. Their hands were tied as long as the snow was pounding the area as quickly as it did and blizzard warnings were declared for the tri-state area including Ripley County.

The Ripley County Communications Center took back-to-back calls as they assisted all area emergency crews as they scrambled from one emergency to another over the weekend. State troopers from the Versailles District responded to 21 crashes and 30 slide-offs. Of the 51 total crashes and slide-offs, 40 of them occurred on I-74. Sgt. Noel Houze noted that troopers also assisted numerous motorists along with other routine calls for service. He said fortunately none of the crashes or slide-offs investigated by troopers involved injury or death.

Most churches and groups with plans for the weekend were cancelled.

The Versailles Church of Christ had to cancel their plans for their 50th celebration on Sunday. According to Dale Day, they have rescheduled the event for this Sunday, March 16 at 2:30 p.m.
State and county road crews had to let Mother Nature take its course Friday night as blizzard-like conditions made it nearly impossible to clear roadways before they were quickly covered again. Reports from Milan came in with the area getting the most snowfall at 14 inches. When the winds subsided, the road crews were busy and many roads, even county roads, were passable by Sunday afternoon.

Sharon Rees, new co-owner of the Holton Food Mart, jokingly told a concerned caller that their store would be open if they had to “come across the field” to get there. Knowing they are the only place in the Holton area to get fuel and essential supplies, the Reeses’ kept their promise to be open. Rescue workers could stop in for a hot sandwich and coffee, or get whatever they might need to help take care of others.

Some people have to brave the weather because their careers demand it. Those who work in the health occupation field do not have a choice. People have to be taken care of. Melanie Reynolds of Holton, wouldn’t drive in the hazardous conditions, but knew she had to be at her job at the Dearborn County Hospital. Her dad took her on Friday and she spent two nights with a friend close to the hospital.
While Southeastern Indiana REMC’s Barry Lauber noted on Saturday morning crews were not necessarily busy in Ripley County with power outages, he did say some employees had been sent to other places that were harder hit. His father, Denver Lauber, who has been a rural mail carrier for years, said residents would not be getting mail on Saturday. “The roads are just too bad,” he noted. The US Postal Service doesn’t close often giving a clear indication of the force of the storm.

All in all, area residents worked together to help each other during the biggest snowfall of the season so far. Most hope it will be the last and spring will arrive soon.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTOS ABOVE PHOTO: On Saturday morning, March 8 about 8:00 a.m. the State Highway crews were on the job, but the blizzard like conditions prevented them from doing a thorough job until the winds died down. This photo was taken on US 50 and Marion Street by the Holton Wesleyan Church. LEFT PHOTO: Audrey Doyle of Holton was clearing her walkway, but admitted she wasn't going to drive anywhere in those conditions. "I'm from Wisconsin," she laughed, saying this was just a little snow compared to what she had known in younger days. The spunky lady also attended a birthday party for her great granddaughter on Sunday, but someone else drove her!