Winter Takes All: Storm drops fresh ice, snow on Mid-Ohio Valley | News, Sports, Jobs

A snow plow from the Ohio Department of Transportation passes a flooded area along Ohio 7 near Bramblewood Heights Friday morning. Crews throughout spent the day removing snow and ice from area roads. (Photo by Art Smith)

PARKERSBURG — Rain, ice and snow created problems in the Mid-Ohio Valley on Thursday and Friday, causing slick roads and closing schools and school-related events Friday.

Snow and ice removal throughout the region started once the rain turned to ice, and crews were still out working Friday afternoon.

Ashley Rittenhouse, public information officer for the Washington County Ohio Department of Transportation in Marietta, said, “At this time, we have over 100 crews in our district,” which includes Washington County.

“The biggest issue with this storm was ice,” Rittenhouse said. “Freezing rain is the most challenging type of precipitation that we have to deal with.”

In addition, high water from the heavy rain that fell on Thursday was a challenge, Rittenhouse said.

A black-capped chickadee sits on a branch covered with ice near a feeder in a lawn in western Washington County Friday morning. (Photo by Art Smith)

When it turned to ice, Rittenhouse said the weight of that ice caused downed trees and power lines.

And she had a word of caution about the work the road crews have been doing. “As the snow continues to fall, it makes it hard to keep up with.”

As of Friday morning, Rittenhouse also said, “We’re urging people to stay home if we can. The roads look better this morning, but we are still out there plowing and treating. If people must travel, they can still see slick spots.”

She asked the public to be patient while the work continues.

Scott Kelly, a highway maintenance assistant for the West Virginia Department of Highways District 3, said about the storm, “It transitioned from rain to ice at approximately midnight to the 1 o’clock hour.”

An SUV moves slowly pass an ice-covered tree on Klinger Road in Washington County. Most side roads in the county were ice and snow covered Friday morning. (Photo by Art Smith)

On Friday, Kelly said his road crews were applying a sand-salt mixture, and in some areas using pure salt.

He said the rain transitioned to ice faster in Wood County than the other counties in the region. As an example, Kelly said the transition to ice took place earlier in Wood County than Calhoun County.

Lilian Shaffer, a Wirt County highway administrator, said crews have been working 24-hour shifts. And Friday morning, the crews had started working on secondary roads after working on the main roads. They had been using salt to treat the roads.

Belpre Mayor Mike Lorentz said as of Friday afternoon, “We’re pretty much done.”

He said the crews would leave to get some rest and if needed because of additional snow or ice, they will go back out on the roads.

Ice hangs from an evergreen tree in a Washington County lawn Friday morning following an overnight ice storm. (Photo by Art Smith)

Spencer Mayor Terry Williams said, “We got along good last night with the snow and ice.”

His community got hit with 2.05-inches, and less than 1 inch of snow and ice.

But Williams said, Front Street in Spencer was completely closed, and Second Street, Bell Street, and Reynolds Streets had water on them. There will be a crew out on the roads from 7 p.m. Friday night to 7 a.m. Saturday morning.

Schools and school-related events canceled or rescheduled Friday included:

WEST VIRGINIA

Ice dangles from the needles of a pine tree in Washington County Friday morning. (Photo by Art Smith)

* Wood County Schools – but 261-day employees were on a two-hour delay.

* Wood County Social Sciences Fair – postponed until Feb 19 at Blennerhassett Elementary School.

* There will be no classes on Monday, Feb. 7, for a professional learning day for teachers.

* Doddridge County Schools – non-traditional learning.

* Wirt County Schools – closed.

* Wetzel County Schools – closed.

* Tyler County Schools – closed.

* Roane County Schools – closed.

* Ritchie County Schools – closed.

* Parkersburg Catholic Schools – virtual learning day #2.

* Jackson County Schools – closed.

* Pleasants County – non-traditional learning day.

* Calhoun County Schools – virtual professional development day.

OHIO

* Belpre City Schools – students completed Blizzard Day 2.

* Marietta City Schools implemented the remote learning day.

* Frontier Local Schools.

* Wolf Creek Local School District.

* Fort Frye Local School District – virtual learning day.

Closings in other places in the Mid-Ohio Valley included:

* Marietta Municipal Court – closed.

* Marietta-Belpre Health Department – closed.

* Vienna Senior Citizens Center – closed through Sunday, Senior Center and Gym closed – Zoom only if possible.

* West Virginia University at Parkersburg – remote classes Friday, employees worked remotely.

* Wood County Recreation Commission – Small Fry basketball program canceled.

* Life & Purpose Behavioral Health, Marietta – Services were being provided via telehealth Friday.

* West Virginia University Extension – Fridays In the Garden.

Larry Launstein Jr. can be reached at [email protected]

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