City Administrator Bill Daily has announced that the snow emergency in Belle Plaine has been lifted, effective immediately.

Well, Belle Plaine, we’ve experienced our first major weather event of the winter season. As the sun rose Thursday morning after our historic early season snowstorm, the stories of how we coped with nearly a day and a half of isolation began pouring out wherever the coffee was perking.
It seems as I grow (not always gracefully) older, the first snowstorm of the season is a shock. And when, as reported by the weather folks, this storm was the third worst on record in regard to statewide average snowfall, it’s a double shock.
This storm reminded me of that ice storm we had a couple of years ago, when we were all shivering in cold houses for a day or so. That was the last time so many of us were stranded for a time.
At those friendly coffee clatches that are a daily ritual in small towns, the talk invariably includes comments about the weather. Those that are in denial like to complain that TV weather forecasters are “never right.” Well, this time, they seemed to be absolutely right. We were warned about this storm up to a week ago. There were no surprises. In fact, although they talked of blizzards, heavy snow and strong winds, they didn’t use some of the language posted by the National Weather Service, which used words like “epic,” “historic” and “dangerous” to describe what we could expect.
So if you would like to continue being in denial and convincing yourself that the TV guys are “never right,” you can go back to consulting your wooly caterpillars, or whatever other way of predicting the weather you prefer. I’ll stick with the local TV folks or the National Weather Service web site.
It always amazes me how many people think they have to venture out and drive to distant cities for seemingly non-essential reasons when storms hit. I know several people in town who are medical or emergency personnel who must commute to Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown or other area cities. But I know a few people who get cabin fever almost as soon as the first snow flake hits the ground and feel they just have to drive 30-40 miles to go shopping.
I guess that’s why we have that legion of underpaid, overworked and often under-appreciated group of sheriff’s deputies, State Patrol officers, ambulance personnel, tow truck operators and snow plow drivers. If someone gets stranded, they rescue them regardless of the reason the motorists were out there in the first place.
Besides the stories of the experiences we have when bad weather hits, one good thing that comes out of it is the general improvement in the mood of folks you meet around town. There’s nothing quite like a good, old-fashion snowstorm to create a common bond among many people. Sometimes when you think you can’t shovel for one more minute and you get frustrated over not being able to get somewhere as fast as you can in the summertime, all you can do is laugh. Whether you use a shiny new snowblower or that 20-year-old shovel, the same amount of snow falls on driveways and sidewalks all over town.
In conclusion, here are a few reminders for this winter season: be a positive nosy neighbor, especially if you live close to someone who is elderly or housebound. Make sure they have enough heat and food and someone to clear their sidewalks. As you are scooping snow this season, if you know where the fire hydrant is in your area, clear the snow from around it so that firemen can find it in case of an emergency. If you see a city snowplow driver, thank him for his work. Sure, you may mutter a bit if the plow piles some snow in front of your driveway. But just remember that earlier this week, when you were safe and warm in your bed in the middle of the night, our crews were behind the wheels of their snowplows, getting the roads open as quickly as possible.
And finally, think warm thoughts. Buy a Hawkeye Orange Bowl t-shirt when they are available. It’ll make you think of Florida. Get that coffee pot or hot chocolate going, bake some cookies. Finish the Christmas cards or decorating the tree. Before you know it, this snow will be gone and we’ll be looking forward to our first splash in our wonderful new aquatics center!

If anybody had a concern about a white Christmas, those fears may have been put to rest in the last 48 hours. In fact, as local residents began the great task of clearing snow from driveways, walks and around their vehicles, they knew that only an unprecedented heat wave would rid the area of the more than a foot of snow which fell on the area Tuesday into Wednesday.
The National Weather Service had been predicting a snowstorm somewhere in the Midwest for several days. As the event grew closer, winter storm and blizzard warnings were issued and the weather service was using terms like “epic” and “historic” to describe what we were expecting.
We received 12.5 inches of snow in the Belle Plaine area and it was whipped around by winds of 30 to at times 40 mph, causing considerable drifting in the outlying areas and the cancellation of school for a third straight day Thursday. The Belle Plaine district has a considerable number of rural students. Superintendent Bill Lynch said he consulted with a representative of the Iowa County Highway Department late Wednesday afternoon and was told that crews were being called in off the roads at the end of their shifts Wednesday and would be back out Thursday at 4 a.m. That prompted Lynch’s decision to postpone school Wednesday evening.
We were greeted by clear, sunny skies Thursday morning, but a wind chill advisory remained in effect until at least noon as the temperature felt like minus 25 degrees.
Belle Plaine city staff were hard at work on clearing streets even during the height of the ground blizzard on Wednesday. By Thursday morning, most of the city streets had been at least partially cleared as crews continued to widen pathways and start to remove the mountains of snow from around the downtown area.
The Belle Plaine Police Department’s early advisories on residents heeding the city’s snow ordinance appeared to work. Police Chief Kris Hudson reported that his department had issued just four tickets and towed four vehicles for violation of the snow emergency ordinance. While many people stayed home on Wednesday with schools and many businesses closed, Belle Plaine Police assisted several motorists who got stuck in the area.
As the clean-up continues, city officials remind residents not to throw snow from their driveways into the plowed streets as it just causes more problems for all drivers in the area. Also, remember to clear snow away from fire hydrants along the street so that in the event of a fire, rescue crews will not be delayed in fighting the fire.
The snow emergency declaration remains in effect until midnight tonight (Thursday).
With the official start of winter still 10 days away, there was an indication, according to the National Weather Service, that the area could see some snow and freezing drizzle late Saturday into Sunday, with temperatures not expected to rise above 25 degrees into next week.

Snowblowers, shovels and blades mounted on the fronts of trucks were in use Thursday morning as Belle Plaine began digging out of its first big snowfall of the season. Crews cleared a snowdrift from in front of the True Value store in downtown Belle Plaine. The area received more than a foot of snow, followed by strong winds which whipped the snow into drifts, especially against buildings with a northern exposure.