Has Someone Made ‘Elsa’ Mad?

Winter has been on full blast these past couple of weeks, causing school delays, fender benders, and now life threatening cold.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The joke on social media this past week is that someone has either made Elsa angry or she has moved to Oskaloosa, because winter has been on full blast for the past few weeks.

Those not familiar with ‘Elsa’, she is a character from the Disney movie ‘Frozen’.

On Tuesday morning, the wind was causing some fresh snow to pile up in the roadways, causing numerous fender benders and a couple of rollover accidents, the most serious being along Highway 163 on the west side of the county.

A vehicle rolled over on its top, crushing the top of the truck into the driver. It took rescue crews nearly 45 minutes to extricate the driver, who was then transported to the hospital. The driver was released just a few hours later from medical care.

Several events were canceled, including school across the county. The first of many missed days this past week.

Between Tuesday and Wednesday, several more inches of snow fell across the county and a snow emergency was declared for Oskaloosa. Motorists had to make sure their vehicles were off of city streets and parking, or be ticketed and possibly towed.

School was again canceled for Wednesday in Oskaloosa, North Mahaska, and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.

Mahaska County Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem and his staff continued to help stranded motorists, especially as the first deep arctic blast took aim at Mahaska County. Temps dropped to -10 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office spent the majority of the day going from one stranded motorist to the next. Van Renterghem asked that motorists call in any stranded motorist, particularly when temperatures are at such dangerous lows. “Even if it’s unoccupied, call it in.”

If your vehicle happens to become stuck or disabled, Van Renterghem recommends that you stay with your vehicle, turn your flashers on, and call 911 if you have a cell phone. “When the temperatures turn fridged, and the wind starts blowing, we don’t recommend getting out of your vehicle and trying to walk for help.”

If you are traveling during the fridged weather, take extra clothing, or some extra blankets and maybe some food “in the event you are stranded for several hours,” said Van Renterghem.

Van Renterghem asked that motorists continue to be mindful of the winter driving conditions, and leave for the destination a few minutes early.

Some tired city streets employees were just finishing nearly 14 hours of work cleaning the streets of Oskaloosa. The approximately 5 inches of snow, added to all of the other snow events during the past week, have put stress on the operators.

A snow and ice event the day before did hinder plowing operations somewhat for Wednesday, causing trouble for the plow trucks and getting enough traction. “Things just tended to go a little slower today,” said Grant Vroegh, Street Supervisor for the city of Oskaloosa.

City road crews are often the subject of criticism by residents, who voice their opinions about the conditions of the roads after snow and ice conditions.

One of those complaints often heard is that the trucks haven’t scraped the snow down to the pavement. Vroegh said that there isn’t any downward pressure on the snow blades, “it’s just the weight of the blades. If we get traffic out there packing it in, it’s just about impossible to get cleared from the road until we get some material down then it slushes up, and then we can go back over it and hit it again.”

That crew of eight, with a total of 6 trucks, breaks up the responsibility. “We put some miles on them [trucks],” added Vroegh of the street cleaning effort.

“We’ve got some tired guys. They’re wanting to go home and go to sleep and I’ve got them coming in tomorrow [Thursday] morning at 4 am to start hauling piles away.

Those piles of snow in then intersections around town are considered round-a-bouts, and no left turns should be taking place, as traffic moves in a counterclockwise direction.

Those snow piles are then hauled out to the city’s brush dump on the west side of town.

Dangerous weather conditions are in store for Mahaska County this coming week, as three whole days will have life-threatening temperatures.

National Weather Service in Des Moines is predicting overnight lows on Tuesday and Wednesday night near negative 20 degrees. Those will be some of the coldest temperatures to impact the area since the mid-1960’s.

A warm-up is forecast for the area when Friday’s temperatures will rise to the mid 20’s, and a projected high of 40 degrees on Saturday.

Oskaloosa News readers shared their thoughts on winter to this point over social media.

Louise Shipman Phillips “Definitely ready for Spring, so tired of snow, cold, ice and not being able to get out to go anywhere.”

Ethan Goetz “This winter will be one for the record books. I’m enjoying it. It takes me back to my childhood when this was more of a common occurrence. More snow this Friday, 1-3 inches. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a few more big snows this season. May be a while before we see the ground.”

Maisi Watts “The snow I don’t mind. It is the bitter cold I dislike.”

Merle Mann “Love it-let it snow!”

Cathy McGrew “I love the beauty of the snow!! Yes the cold temps are not so much fun to be out in. I get to see my grandsons, the Van Leuven boys, when they come shovel us out. The snow puts me in the baking mood which my husband loves. Come on this is part of the beauty of living in Oskaloosa, Iowa!!”