OSAGE COUNTY — A significant winter storm pummeled the midwest Saturday night through Monday morning, resulting in hazardous road conditions, power outages, and at least one fatality.
The …
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OSAGE COUNTY — A significant winter storm pummeled the midwest Saturday night through Monday morning, resulting in hazardous road conditions, power outages, and at least one fatality.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) urged people to refrain from all unnecessary travel, and most Osage County residents seemed to have heeded that warning.
“Road & Bridge was out plowing the county roads and spreading cinders, then it all got covered up again,” said Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin on Sunday night. “They’ll be out again in the morning, doing it all over again.”
Osage County Sheriff Mike Bonham said things were thankfully very quiet for his department during the storm.
Osage County 911 Director Ron Hoffman reported five fire calls (4 hindered by weather), 20 law enforcement calls (12 hindered by weather), and 11 EMS calls (8 hindered by weather), between 4 p.m. Saturday and approximately noon on Monday. “All the fire departments have been on standby for EMS or whoever is needed to get to patients where EMS needs help,” Hoffman said, before clarifying that fortunately, no help was required. “Everybody was ready either by staying in the station or by staying at work overnight.
“I’d like to thank the citizens for staying home,” Hoffman added, “We’ve only had two slide offs.”
By comparison, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 3,134 calls for service, 1,788 stranded motorists, 436 crashes, 38 injuries, and one fatality statewide between noon on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Monday.
Many Osage County businesses closed early on Saturday and/or closed on Sunday, due to hazardous travel conditions.
Some areas in and around Linn lost power for approximately three hours on Sunday, and Linn Thriftway closed early due to hazardous conditions and loss of power. Many businesses remained closed on Monday as well, including the Osage County Annex Building.
Fatima R-3 had a snow day on Monday. Chamois R-1 and Linn R-2 do not have school on Mondays, and were still on winter break. All three districts remained closed on Tuesday.
