The season may have just changed to fall, but ODOT is already hunkering down for winter's fury.
Crews are checking over 1,700 snow plows across the state and other pieces of equipment to make sure they can handle the snow and maintain 40,000 miles of state highways.
ODOT's District 5 is already planning to have a dry-run for crews at the end of the month on October 25th.
Officials say it's extremely important to keep up with winter storms because if the transportation...
With last week's warm weather and now the rain, it has many residents feeling like spring is finally here.
But others say April may have some tricks up its sleeve.
"Yea don't be tricked by the nice weather, early March, cause there is still some nastiness in there I am sure," says Chris Joseph.
"The almanac says we will have another snow storm coming so we will wait and see. We hope that almanac is wrong that is all we can hope for,"...
This winter has brought more snow than most of us have seen in awhile, and it has trapped many of us in our own homes.
However, staying indoors for a long period of time can start to get to you, causing things like "cabin fever" and even depression.
"The feeling of not being able to go out can be very confining and be oppressive to a person, " says Dr. Vicki Whitacre of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department.
You need to try to include some...
Most local residents say they're sick of the snow, and it's even causing people to develop "cabin fever."
Yet, conditions like these can also bring about more cases of domestic violence.
"People are cooped up. The kids are home from school and tempers flare a little easier. It's not like you can go outside and garden or go outside and take a walk. So, they might have to do some more creative activities to reduce that, " says Response Victim Assistance program...
Farmers are finding it difficult to manage their property with all this snow, but they still have to find a way to dig out and to get food and water to livestock.
Tractors are able to handle the fresh snow. Yet, snow piles are growing and becoming hard.
"If we get on some frozen ground, it can be a safety issue. Tractors can skid on icy conditions. Right now, with all that snow, it's not as grave of an issue, " says Mark Mechling of the OSU Extension Program.
...
Zanesville's current financial situation has many people watching the 2010 budget closely.
Mayor Howard Zwelling says the city has a goal of cutting overtime in half this year, but the street department is racking up overtime trying to fight this winter's snow.
"We know we can't cut it out all together because then we would not be clearing the streets after hours. We would not be doing a lot of things, " says Zwelling.
Zwelling says he's not concerned right now....
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon according to the National Weather Service. Click on our "weather link" on this website to learn more from Whiz Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Wesley Sass' exclusive forecast.
Dry skin is a pesky irritation that, for many, signals winter is well under way.
But Dr. Vicki Whitacre of the Zanesville- Muskingum County Health Department said it can also make you sick.
"You want to avoid a lot of cracking," she said. "You can get an infections and get into real problems with infection in your skin if you don't take care of it."
During cold and flu season continous washing of hands or using hand sanitizer can also dry out hands...
The snow and the cold weather are having a major presence across southeastern Ohio and much of the US this winter.
In fact, weather experts say it could be the worst winter the country has experienced in more than 25 years, but Ohio University-Zanesville Dean James Fonseca says you need to look at the overall picture.
"This has been a relatively cool year overall. If you remember back to summer, i think we set some type of record for fewest number of days above 90, "...
The cold winter has Jack Frost nipping at the nose of many residents in our area.
With last week's heavy dose of snow, many residents have mixed opinions about the winter season.
"Oh it is not too bad, I don't mind it, I think it is pretty," says Ruth Thompson.
"Well it has, it has good points and it's bad, but I will be glad when summer is back," tells Tery Callihan.
Kenny Hill says when he was a kid he loved the...
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