Thursday, March 13th, 2014

Never-ending winter drags on

Vulcan helps tie local snow record

By Shelley Grieshop
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

A pair of Wright State University-Lake Campus students make their way through the snow to the parking lot on Wednesday. Total snow accumulation this winter in the Grand Lake area has tied the record set in the winter of 1978.

CELINA - Keith Anderson trudged through the snow along North Main Street with his head down so the icy sleet didn't sting his red-cheeked face.
"I am ready for spring," the 63-year-old Celina resident said during Wednesday's latest snowstorm. "I like snow but this has been going on too long and I've got spring fever. I can't wait to get out and start mowing."
Mercer County's seasonal snowfall record of 61 inches was tied Wednesday as Vulcan - the 22nd named storm in the United States this winter - dropped 4.1 inches in the Grand Lake area. The record was set the winter of '78, according to local weather forecaster Dennis Howick.
"I don't think the snow this year has bothered people as much as it did during the blizzard because we've gotten it a few inches at a time," he said. "But it's been so cold."
The temperature during a normal winter drops to zero or below zero an average of four days, Howick said.
"We've already had 28 of those days," he said, adding the mercury fell to minus 16 on two days in January and February.
Don Hughes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, said climate conditions fascinate him but he, too, is tired of winter.
"I don't know about you but I'm sick of this snow," he said Tuesday. "It seems like it's been a long winter."
Earlier this week some residents donned T-shirts and shorts as temperatures rose to near 60 degrees. But the warm-up was a short-lived tease; the overnight low this morning was 5 and today's high is 25.
Many counties across Ohio have tied or broken snow and cold weather records in the last month, Hughes said. Toledo topped their historic snow measurement this year with 73.5 inches, he said.
"But it's not really been a bad year for lake effect snow because the lake's been frozen over for some time," Hughes said.
The longtime meteorologist said Mercer County likely could experience more white stuff before the month is over.
"Last year Celina had 151/2 inches of snow in March," he said, adding it was the second-highest total on record for the month.
Rob Dunlap on Wednesday afternoon attempted to steer a dozen or so shopping carts through the slush on the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter in Celina.
"It's been really tough. They just don't want to move," he said pointing to the small, rubber wheels on the carts.
Dunlap, a nine-year employee of the box store, said he was tired of battling a snow drift the wind kept recreating in front of the cart garage door.
Although spring officially arrives one week from today, it's anybody's guess how long winter will hang on.
"Maybe this year we'll go straight from winter to summer," Howick said, adding he hopes the summer months aren't as extreme as the winter months have been. "It seems like Mother Nature evens everything out in the end."
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

A city of Celina public works truck plows Main Street near the county library on Wednesday. Total snow accumulation this winter in the Grand Lake area has tied the record set in the winter of 1978.

Additional online story on this date
Scott Frey, executive director of the Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce since August 2009, has resigned.
Frey tendered his resignation to the chamber's board of directors on Monday, saying he accepted a business position with a local company. His resignation is effective March 24. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
NEW BREMEN - Board of education members Wednesday night approved the replacement of aging boilers at the elementary/middle school building.
Slagle
Gov. John Kasich's plan to increase the tobacco tax by 60 cents a pack to balance a state income tax cut is getting mixed reviews.
Retailers and grocers say the move will hurt their profits and cost jobs, while health groups believe the hike will help curb tobacco use.
ST. MARYS - St. Marys school board members on Wednesday approved spending $316,050 from the permanent improvement fund.
Two new buses and updated playground equipment at the primary school are among the projects.
CELINA - Three new cruisers soon will be added to the sheriff's fleet of 29 vehicles.
Mercer County Commissioners this week approved action by sheriff Jeff Grey to purchase one unmarked and two marked vehicles. Each of the three 2014 Ford Utility Police Interceptors costs approximately $25,650.
COLDWATER - Fire destroyed a 40-foot-by-60-foot barn Wednesday night along St. Anthony Road.
No injuries were reported and the cause remains undetermined. A dollar loss was not available.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Bob Weir is back on the road with his five-man band, Ratdog, keeping alive the songs and spirt of the beloved Grateful Dead, for which he sang and played rhythm guitar, to old and new generations of fans.
Division IV Regional Final Preview
After pulling away from Russia in convincing fashion on Tuesday, Marion Local quickly turned its focus on a Tri-Village team that has been dominating all season.
Last Curtain Call
The pollsters dropped the ball in 1990. Despite an 18-2 record and a history of recent appearances in the state tournament, Charlie Maier's Coldwater Cavaliers ended the season unranked in Division III in the Associated Press's girls basketball poll.