Snow no fun for adults

Once Marion Countian dug out of their own driveways, they still had to deal with roads that were only cleared one lane wide if they weren’t I-79, U.S. 19, etc. even though Winter Snowstorm Jonas struck four days ago.

It could be the middle of the week before most of the 24,000 miles of West Virginia’s secondary roads are cleared of the remnants of Jonas. The state got up to 40 inches.

Paul Mattox, secretary of the West Virginia Department of Transportation, said “Our secondary road system is very twisty, windy, a lot of hills, they’re narrow and it takes a longer amount of time to go back in there and get those plowed and treated.”

My sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in a section of Rivesville where there are 3 houses and a wicked curve that endangers her mailbox from autos sliding into it, had an experience that typifies problems throughout the state on secondary roads:

 

“John, after 3 days of shoveling, I knew it was impossible to do the whole lot. 

“I searched around and found a team that had adequate equipment to do the job. They came Monday pm and did a wonderful job!  It cost me $70 but was it ever worth it! 

“I can now get out but the secondary roads are just one car wide so drivers need to be very careful.” 

Jackie will be going to tonight’s WVU basketball game in Morgantown with daughters Renee and Belinda and Belinda’s husband, Dave.

“I am feeling well enough since my snowlifting days are ended for now anyway. 

“Love, Jackie”

Even for a mountain widow, at her age (Class of 1955, remember?), dealing with Jonas was a whale of a challenge.

No wonder schools in 52 of West Virginia’s 55 counties have been closed through at least Tuesday.