|
|
|
 Area residents used snowblowers, snow plows and snow shovels to dig out from a winter storm that hit late Friday and Saturday. Another storm is to hit tonight. Staff photo/William Laney MIKE BURKHOLDER
and WILLIAM LANEY
Staff Writers
A winter snow storm, which dumped as much as 3 feet in the Washington, D.C. area, hit the area with as much as 9 inches of snow in Wapakoneta and some areas of Auglaize County.
The snowfall came with high winds which created drifts as tall as 4 feet causing hazards for the city and county roadways.
Wapakoneta weather observer Dan Dietz calculated 8.5 inches of snow fell in Wapakoneta Friday and Saturday. The National Weather Service is predicting as much as 10 more inches starting with a light snow at midnight with most of the snow falling throughout the day Tuesday before tapering off early Wednesday morning.
Wapakoneta Public Works Superintendent Meril Simpson said city crews hit the roads at 4 a.m. Saturday, but the high winds hampered their effforts.
Crews worked until 4:15 p.m.. Saturday and returned Sunday and worked from 7 a.m. to 1p.m. before heading back out early this morning.
“We are attempting to clear the roadways the best we can and we are dumping more salt and grit this time,” Simpson said this morning. “The temperature is still too cold for the salt to work, but if we get enough sun it may warm it up enough to help.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
Street sale attracts thousands to city |
|
Monday, 20 July 2009 |
By KRISTA HAYES
Staff Writer
Although gray skies with a chance of rain threatened most of the day Saturday, thousands of Auglaize County residents gathered in downtown Wapakoneta, looking for steals and deals during the seventh annual street sale hosted by Wapakoneta Antique and Specialty Shops (WASS).
Held in conjunction with the Summer Moon Festival and the 40th anniversary of hometown hero Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon, nearly 100 local and area vendors set up tents and displays, selling everything from produce and baked goods to antiques, furniture and toys from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Wapakoneta downtown Farmer’s Market also was being held.
“Even though it looked like it was going to rain, I don’t think the weather really had a hand in effecting how many people attended the street sale this year,” Casa Chic co-owner and WASS Vice President Landa Tomlinson said. “For the most part, we had pretty cool weather compared to years in the past where it was scorching hot, but this year it seemed like a lot of people in the community came out to shop and support their local businesses.”
Returning for her second year to participate in the sale was Jackson Center resident and Gold Canyon independent demonstrator Joann Blystone, who arrived to the event ready to sell wickless soy-based candles, scent pods and warmers available in more than 100 scents with the bake line being her top seller, along with a plant-based all-purpose cleaning product made with mint and rosemary.
“I don’t participate in the sale each year so much for the sales, but for the networking and getting my name and the product I sell out there,” Blystone said. “Each year during the sale, it seems that I get more and more feedback from people who are interested in learning more about me and the products I offer through Gold Canyon. Although I didn’t sell everything I brought with me for the sale this year, I definitely ended up on the positive end, which was good enough for me.”
When asked what keeps her coming back to participate in the street sale, Bystone’s said her response was simple — it’s the people of Wapakoneta.
“It’s just the whole town, the community, and the people who live here are just so awesome to work with,” Bystone said. “I’m from Jackson Center but I love Wapakoneta, but don’t tell Jackson Center that.”
As shoppers browsed the many items offered by such vendors, they also received the opportunity to bid on several hand-painted and designed furniture pieces during the Chair-ity and Fun-iture silent auction.
With cars jumping off ramps flying across the air, residents wishing to take a break from shopping were also treated to high-speed remote control car races hosted by Dad’s Toy Shop, with hobbyists gathered nearby to take control of the stunt cars.
“I couldn’t believe how fast the cars were for being remote controlled,” Mechanicsburg resident Miranda Reese said. “With all the jumps and flips they do you would think they would just fall apart but them seem pretty durable and crash resistant.”
Several other memorabilia pieces including newspapers, posters, books, glasses and coins honoring July 16, 1969, as a day that put astronaut Neil Armstrong and the whole entire Wapakoneta community in the national spotlight.
“Overall, I think the sale went very well,” Tomlinson said. “A lot of vendors who had never participated in the sale before actually showed up to give their name and addresses so that I could contact them next year with information on how to get involved. “
“This year we had more vendors participate than in the past, the crowd was good and the money was there despite the economy,” she said. “Everything went great and I think everyone involved enjoyed themselves.”
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 July 2009 )
|
|
|
|
