Sleet saved county from worse fate

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert County spent Wednesday digging out from a storm that threw just about everything – snow, sleet, freezing rain – at the area, but not as much of any of those as expected. Except sleet, that is.

Having the sleet fall in such a large amount was the saving grace for the county, according to County EMA Director Rick McCoy.

McCoy noted Wednesday that the 1.2 inches of sleet the county received would have translated into an inch of ice in the form of freezing rain or an additional 12 inches of snow, if either of those had fallen instead.

“Thank goodness for sleet,” McCoy added.

Things were bad enough in the county that Sheriff Stan D. Owens declared a snow emergency in the county. The declaration was made to keep residents off roads so that state, county and township road crews would have a better chance of clearing roadways of the winter mix.

Having the ice fall near the end of the mix was also a positive, since the crust of ice on top of the snow and sleet keep the snow from blowing around as much as it would have otherwise when winds hit 35 mph and up.

Not only did county residents stay home on Wednesday, but most governmental offices and businesses also decided to close or either open later in the day and close earlier. County schools also closed for the day, and are on delays this morning until school officials can gauge whether the roads are safe enough for buses to travel. Van Wert City, Lincolnview, Crestview, St. Mary’s Elementary and Vantage Career Center are all on a two-hour delay this morning, while Thomas Edison Center is on a one-hour delay.

The inclement weather also gave those seeking elected office an extra day in which to get signatures for their petitions. County Elections Director Linda Stutz announced that, with the closing of the Board of Elections office on Wednesday, office-seekers had until 4 p.m. today to file petitions for various elected positions.

The storm also impacted Tuesday’s planned performance of the ballet Swan Lake at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. That performance has now been set for 7:30 p.m. Monday, February 7, with a pre-performance lecture scheduled for 6:30 that evening.

With clear skies the next couple of days, temperatures will be frigid the next couple of days, with a high of 16 forecast for today, with a low of minus-1 tonight. Friday’s temperatures are expected to include a high of 24 and a low of 23.