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 By JENNIFER TANGEMAN
Staff Writer
Few people exhibit an enthusiasm about historical artifacts as Jim Bowsher does.
When crews working for G.A. Wintzer and Son Co. started working to build new office space on West Auglaize Street, they came across some interesting finds where a rental home had previously sat.
Jim Kent and others of Kent Surveying began finding pieces of artifacts. They called in local history buff, Bowsher, to try to figure out what the bits and pieces meant.
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Monday, 08 February 2010 |
 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.”
He said they plan on hauling snow out of the downtown area today.
“We will work all day today and just have to see how much we can get done,” Simpson said. “I have to get the crews some rest because the next storm is supposed to hit later tonight or early tomorrow morning.”
Simpson said he understands crews’ and residents’ frustrations with the snow, but he asked residents to plow and snowblow their walks and driveways into their yard and not into the street. Residents push the snow into the street and snowplows puz0sh it off the road back into their driveway approach.
He also reminded motorists to move their vehicles on the street to help city crews plow snow.
The heavy drifting and high winds Saturday morning prompted Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon to close all county roads to emergency personnel only.
“At 6 a.m. Saturday we closed them to give the crews a chance to get them cleared,” Solomon said. “Closing the roads gives the crews the best chance to get them cleared.”
Deputies handled several reports regarding vehicles in ditches or stuck in drifts Friday night and into Saturday morning. Solomon said since the storm hit at night, motorists may not have had a chance to get home before roads turned snow covered.
“The wind was causing some problems overnight,” Solomon said. “I think for the amount of snow we got in the time period it was understandable. I think people were out preparing for Saturday in case they got shut in.”
Throughout the weekend, Solomon put out road advisories to keep the public informed. While he does not use the level system like Allen and Mercer counties use, Solomon said his system allows for some flexibility.
“Even when I close the road, you must check with your employer to see if you need to report,” Solomon said. “It is up to them to decide who needs to report, not the sheriff.”
Auglaize County Engineer Doug Reinhart said county crews hit the road early Saturday morning, however drifting and winds caused some minor problems.
“Cars caught in drifts and abandoned in the middle of the road are the biggest problem,” Reinhart said. “We had a truck that got stuck because it had to go around a car that was abandoned.”
While Reinhart said he could not give an exact snowfall amount, he said he believed it was more than the 4 inches he expected. Drifting and the way the storm tracked caused snowfall amounts to be different depending upon where measurements were taken in the county.
“It’s tough to tell,” Reinhart said. “You have 25 mph winds and drifting. There are some places where you can see grass and others where drifts are 20 feet.”
Reinhart said a vehicle got stuck in a drift north of Glynwood. County crews found the vehicle, but were unable to locate the driver.
“We are working with the sheriff’s office to find the driver so it can be moved,” Reinhart said, noting abandoned vehicles also pose a safety risk to motorists.
Reinhart dispatched 15 drivers to clear roads Saturday. Wind speeds and sunshine, Reinhart said, will dictate how clear roads remain for the rest of the week.
“With no sunshine and highs in the mid-20s, we may be driving on snow-packed roads for the next week,” Reinhart said.
St. Marys Police Sgt. Jake Sutton said traffic was light after the storm. Officers handled a few crashes Friday night as the storm moved into the city.
“The main roads are looking pretty good,” Sutton said. “The snow crews are starting to put a dent in it.”
Sutton also encouraged residents to move vehicles parked on the road once they are able to dig them out. Under a city ordinance, vehicles can only be parked in the same spot for 48 hours or less.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 09 February 2010 )
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