Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ice Storm Blasts Into Area; No Major Problems Reported

Few people were glad to see last week's frigid temperatures accompanied by the ice storm.

However, Andy Riethmaier, owner of Gurdon's Piggly Wiggly, was one of them.

Area residents flocked to the grocery store and stripped the shelves, especially of bread and milk, as they prepared for the worst.

But the worst never really came.

For the most part, the streets were slick, but there were no major accidents, according to the Gurdon Police Department.

In addition, the Gurdon Fire Department had a quiet time as well.

The major problem will most likely be frozen pipes for many residents as the temperature plummeted to single digits during the nights, with wind chill factors taking the temperature below zero.

Clark County Judge Grady Runyan said the area came out really lucky.

Friday afternoon and Saturday morning were the only times there were problems, and these weren't serious.

Runyan said his road crews sanded and salted the bridges and hills early Friday after the sleet began falling Thursday afternoon.

However, there were several fender benders, as Runyan said, because of the ice, but there were no serious injuries.

Interstate 30 had its share of dented fenders, but, again, there were no major accidents or injuries.

Runyan said one of his road signs was wiped out on a county road, but, otherwise it was quiet.

He said there were no power lines down, no people stranded and the road crews weren't called out after they sanded the bridges and hills.

Fred Harris, with Alliance Home Health Care, said employees with the health unit had to do some innovative transportation, but had no serious problems either.

Those workers with four-wheel drive vehicles made sure aides were taken to various locations where their services were needed all day Friday.

They also took clients to the grocery store to make sure they had food for the cold weather. Meals on Wheels and the Gurdon Senior Adult Center were closed because of the icy conditions.

"We touched base with all our clients and saw most of them," Harris said. "We made sure they all had something to eat.

"It was an interesting day, Friday, but I'm glad it's over."

Gurdon City Recorder\Treasurer Tambra Smith said there were no real problems within the confines of the city limits.

Other than it being extraordinarily cold, she said, things were pretty much normal.