Snow warning continues

Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Nationally-known Abraham Lincoln impersonator B.F. McClerren addressed an eighth-grade audience at Greencastle Middle School Monday, following a successful performance Sunday at the annual Lincoln Day Celebration, hosted by the Putnam County Republicans. McClerren is a retired professor from Eastern Illinois University and has been portraying the former president for 15 years.

The Groundhog may have recently predicted an early spring, but winter is still upon Putnam County, with more snow on the way.

As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, three inches of new snow accumulation was recorded in the Greencastle area by official weather observer Peggy Torr. But the National Weather Service is predicting more snow on the way, with sleet, accumulating 4-9 inches.

Monday's weather predictions were enough to prompt all Putnam County school districts to cancel classes on Tuesday. Central Indiana remains under a winter storm warning until midnight. While the northern portion of the state was under a blizzard warning.

Around the county, roads were reported in various stages of slick.

Putnam County Highway Supt. Dave Sutherlin said all county roads were slick Tuesday morning, but none were closed. Snow plows have been clearing roads since 2 a.m.

"I'm worried about down power lines," Sutherlin said, concerned that ice accumulation could weigh down lines later today and cause problems. Neighboring counties have already reported down lines, he said.

Dave O'Hair at the state highway garage in Cloverdale confirmed that major traffic routes through the county remained opened Tuesday morning.

"The roads are wet to freezing," he said of highway conditions. "With the temperatures falling, we're worried about them freezing."

Winds were picking up during the morning hours, he said, and that had caused some blowing snow problems in the Bainbridge area.

In the Cloverdale area, however, snow was mixed with freezing rain, and that was likely to cause more traffic problems.

"We have no trouble spots now," O'Hair said around 8:30 a.m. "All the roads are open, there's no wrecks and we're happy."

The Indiana State Police at Putnamville were reporting multiple slide-offs throughout their coverage district. But no accidents with injuries.

The same report came from the Putnam County 911 Dispatch Center. One truck had reportedly overturned on Interstate 70 around 3 a.m., but no one was injured. Five or six vehicles sliding off the road had also been reported.

The National Weather Service forecast called for up to one-quarter inch of ice to accumulate in Putnam County on Tuesday, with highs in the upper 20s. Snow was expected to continue through midnight, and wind gusts up to 25 mph were expected.

The remainder of the week calls for a chance of flurries on Wednesday, with lows dipping to near zero late Thursday.

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