City offices won't reopen until Wednesday, trash routes affected by weather

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Fresh from conferring with Greencastle Fire Chief Bill Newgent and Police Chief Tom Sutherlin at mid-day Monday, Mayor Sue Murray issued an update on how the city is coping with the snow emergency and dangerously cold conditions.

Putnam County remains under a Level1 snow emergency order until at least noon Tuesday, she noted.

A Level 1 declaration dictates that travel may be restricted to emergency personnel only.

Per the Department of Homeland Security and local authorities, Level 1 means "citizens are directed to refrain from all travel, comply with necessary emergency measures, cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing operations plans, and comply with the directions of properly identified officers."

"There will be a re-evaluation as we get closer," the mayor said as temperatures hovered around -10 at noon Monday.

"Tom (Chief Sutherlin) reports most all businesses are closed, including Walmart and the distribution center," the mayor added.

"At this time I am planning on keeping city offices closed at least until noon (Tuesday)," she added, "but unless we see some change, we'll most likely plan on reopening Wednesday morning"

And that will indeed be the case, it was announced late Monday. City offices will remain closed until Wednesday morning.

"Many thanks to all who continue to work through these trying times to keep us safe and cared for," Mayor Murray concluded. "You are appreciated more than you can know."

Meanwhile, the scheduled January meeting of the Greencastle Board of Zoning Appeals was canceled for Tuesday evening as well. A make-up date is expected to be announced later this week.

Also, Republic Services, which is contracted to collect trash within city limits, has announced a tentative revised schedule.

If Republic is able to run its Wednesday routes, it will be doing Wednesday's trash route as normal and will double pick up next week, a company spokesman said via email.

If that occurs, Wednesday through Friday trash will be picked up as normal this week if weather and road conditions permit.

Republic would then pick up extra bagged trash next week on its Monday and Tuesdays routes.

Meanwhile, with the snow having at least ended, an official Greencastle storm total has now been established as 12 inches of new snow.

That storm total includes 11.5 inches after 7 a.m. Sunday (National Weather Service reporting time) and a half-inch that fell prior to that, according to local weather observer Diana Foust.

And how cold was it?

Foust said the coldest actual temperature she has recorded thus far in Greencastle has been -11.2 degrees.

The Indiana Department of Transportation said Monday that blowing and drifting snow, along with subzero temperatures, have made clearing the roads all but impossible.

"This is a dangerous situation, and all are advised to stay home until roadways can be safely cleared," INDOT said in a statement.

Problem areas include:

*U.S. 41 south of State Road 55
*State Road 39 between U.S. 36 and U.S. 40
*State Road 39 between State Road 42 and State Road 142
*State Road 47 north of Darlington
*State Road 75 from U.S. 236 to U.S. 36
*State Road 142 between State Road 39 and State Road 42
*State Road 236 between State Road 59 and State Road 39
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  • so why do I still see people driving on my street, some of which should definitely know better?!

    Stay home, people, and keep yourselves and those who have to be out safe and sound. If Walmart is closed, you know it has to be bad out there! And, I do see some irony that there are people working at the newspaper. I guess that is considered an essential operation in emergency conditions.

    -- Posted by cll on Mon, Jan 6, 2014, at 3:14 PM
  • Hey, cll,

    Through the wonder of the very same Internet that through some sort of wizardry brings this story to your home, a Banner Graphic reporter may have filed this story from safe and warm within his own home.

    -- Posted by Sour Grapes on Mon, Jan 6, 2014, at 3:35 PM
  • Wal-Mart Distro is open today and tomorrow! That statement has caused a lot of grief for associates that work there.

    -- Posted by pcmom&gma on Mon, Jan 6, 2014, at 4:54 PM
  • They can be open all they like but the local emergency order restricts travel to and from that facility. Walmart distribution is not an essential service and persons working there should stay off the road until the local emergency order is lifted.

    -- Posted by jorge on Mon, Jan 6, 2014, at 11:08 PM
  • Well yes I hope I can travel by noon Tuesday. I have cooperated but some it was impossible to be prepared when completely broke. I have no formula and almost out of milk because WalMart wasn't prepared. I have no cigarettes. I eill be getting tomorrow no matter what. Nicotine withdrawl and pregnancy nothing to play around with lol. I slowed down but no ciggs BAD NEWS. My choice so u can judge on that all u want. Plus pediatrician appt. Tomorrow I have no idea if I go or not. Idk. But I have to get out tomorrow. No question. Emergency

    -- Posted by pattycakes on Tue, Jan 7, 2014, at 7:56 AM
  • Today I mean oops. Phone is spelling for me.

    -- Posted by pattycakes on Tue, Jan 7, 2014, at 7:57 AM
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