COUNTY DIGS OUT FROM Seven Inches Of Snow

This time, the National Weather Service was pretty much on target with its forecast. As predicted, Adair County received around six to seven inches of snow Friday night and Saturday morning (some areas in the southern part of the county may have received more), leaving residents to either stay at home or dig their way out Saturday.
And, while there were numerous reports of accidents occurring early Friday night throughout the day Saturday as slick spots developed on some roads and city streets, all were non-injury crashes with the exception of one (see related story), and no other major weather-related problems were reported.
"It seems like we came through in pretty good shape," Adair County Emergency Management Director Greg Thomas said. "Fortunately, we didn't get any freezing rain or ice before the snow hit.
"Other than the accidents, which happen just about anytime we get snow and slick roads, I didn't get any reports of any power outages or people being stranded. There was plenty of advance warning about the storm, and I think most people were prepared for it and stayed in."
By far the busiest people in the county over the weekend were the state and county road department crews and the city street crew.
Stephanie Daffron, spokesperson for the Somerset District Department of Highways, said state crews began pre-treating roads on Wednesday and Thursday, then worked around the clock over the weekend salting and plowing roads.
"The employees worked pretty much around the clock Friday and Saturday, and continued through Sunday," Daffron said. "Today (Monday) they're finishing up on some of the lesser traveled roads and checking other roads for potential slick spots due to the temperature."
The Adair County Road Department began work Friday, and continued throughout the weekend, working from early morning until well into the night, and were still doing some cleaning and salting yesterday.
"Our road crew started early Friday morning salting hills and curves," Judge/Executive Ann Melton said. "They worked Friday night, then started in early Saturday morning and worked until well after dark then came back Sunday morning. They were out finishing up things today. Our road department worked hard, and I'm proud of them."
The City of Columbia street department began plowing and salting in the middle of the night Friday and continued throughout the weekend.
By yesterday, the vast majority of the streets and roads throughout the city and county were relatively clear of snow, and conditions were expected to improve even more with above freezing temperatures expected today.
Photo:CLINT CAYWOOD created his own mini-snow storm Saturday afternoon as he used a blower to clean off the front steps of the Columbia Baptist Church on Greensburg Street. (Photo By Paul B. Hayes)