A drastic increase in snowfall has brought a stark reminder of winter for residents in Warren County, following several mild years.
“I was really hoping that I could get away with not shoveling at least until after the new year," commented Jeff Haight, Warren resident. "But this year it’s not going to work out. We got a lot of snow this year.”
The Department of Public Works (DPW) in the City of Warren deployed all available plows and salt trucks to ensure that the roads remain clear and safe.
“It’s been a challenge, it’s started snowing at 6:30 this morning and we had to have all the crews out," stated Mike Holtz, City Manager. "The city received around six inches of snow in about three hours, it really came down. Our crews have been great though, the trucks have been running well and we have a lot of salt and traction, enough to last us all season.”
While road crews tackle major thoroughfares, resident are stepping up to clear driveways and sidewalks. Among them were Bentley Vincent and Connor Smith, students at Beaty Middle School, who made sure to add in fun while also helping their neighbors.
"It's been fun, we've been having fun while helping our neighbors," stated Vincent.
"We've been busy shoveling everything out, but we've also had a bunch of snowball fights, so it's been fun," added Smith.
The DPW is reminding drivers to give plows plenty of space, reduce speeds, and stay off the roads when possible during heavy snow.
But it is clear as the season gets underway, that winter challenges can bring out the best in the community.