Local motorists avoid major problems

GREENCASTLE -- Winter weather blew into the county Thursday without creating any major problems for motorists.

"We have just had minor slide offs," said Putnam County Sheriff Steve Fenwick.

Amanda Seniour with Seniour's Wrecker Service said their tow trucks were busy Thursday morning with slide offs throughout the county.

A winter storm watch will be in effect for the area until 7 a.m. today with a 20 percent chance of more snow showers expected. Putnam County saw approximately four inches of snow Thursday, but wind was a major factor in clearing roads.

"We hit a few places with salt/sand, but everything was just getting covered up again by the wind," said Clint Maddox with the Putnam County Highway Department.

Greencastle Public Works Superintendent Brad Phillips agreed wind was a major problem Thursday. "It will be a bigger issue during the night, but there will be crews working throughout the night," he said.

The National Weather Service reported wind gusts from the west of up to 25 mph Thursday. Wind gusts were expected to reach up to 30 mph during the night with wind chill dipping to 3 degrees below zero.

As a preventative measure, most city streets were covered with ClearLane, a magnesium chloride salt. Secondary or side streets received two applications of the material.

The highway department said crews would be hitting the pavement first thing this morning. "We sent a majority of the crew home at normal time and will have a limited crew out (Thursday night) for emergency personnel," said Maddox.