Latest snowfall to be followed by cold front

Jasper County residents found themselves in a narrow band of heavy snowfall for most of the day Monday, and the snow continues to fall this morning, dropping another eight inches on the area. With below zero temperatures and winds expected to pick up this afternoon, residents will likely find driving conditions extremely difficult.

In Newton, Jody Rhone’s street crews began their day at 4 a.m. Monday, going over the main and secondary streets several times.

“We plowed all streets at least once, and we went out again at 4 a.m., doing everything again,” Rhone said. “We should be done by noon. Then, it’s just wait and see what the wind does to us.”

Rhone said crews were applying only sand on the streets today, as the salt loses its effectiveness in the colder temperatures. The city’s supply of salt and sand remains good, he said, calling the new salt shed constructed last year “a blessing.”

The overtime hours for the street department crew stands at 450 hours so far this winter, compared to 750 hours for all of last winter. Rhone said the timing of this year’s storms, with fewer storms coming on the weekends, has helped keep overtime hours down somewhat.

Out in the rural areas of Jasper County, Secondary Roads Department maintenance supervisor Dennis Bucklin said all hard-surface roads are passable this morning, with some minimal drifting. He anticipated more drifting problems later today as the winds pick up, however.

Bucklin said the county’s full complement of plows and trucks were out this morning, but cautioned drivers to drive slowly on the snow-packed roads.

“We’ll be working long hours the rest of the week,” Bucklin said.