40 YEARS AGO: Snow - just another word for January
A powered three-wheeler just wouldn’t hack it for Levi Eslinger as he attempted a trip around the square during a period of snow flurries. Just as anyone spinning his wheels on the packed snow needs a push, so did Levi, and his Grandma Juanita Eslinger was there to oblige. He is the son of Leon and Debbie Eslinger.
Feb. 6, 1985, Ozark County Times: January brought more than 18 inches of snow, sleet and freezing drizzle to Ozark county and a near record cold of minus 17 on two nights and zero temperatures on two other nights. It did not bring a January thaw and moved the snow right along into February. …
Of the 22 school days in January, county schools were closed for 12 of them. February is bringing more closings. All county schools have used up their built-in snow days. When no more spare days are left and eight additional days are missed, schools will be required to make up only half of the rest of the days that may be missed, Dr. Jerry Whitworth, Gainesville superintendent of schools, said. ...
The crew at the Gainesville maintenance building is responsible for clearing about 200 miles of primary and secondary highways in the county.
The Gainesville crew was directed by Marvin McGinnis, acting maintenance supervisor in the absence of Coy Runion, who is recovering from surgery. The other crew members are Ronnie Beavers, Junior Collins and Richard Miller. The crew worked 116 hours in January and drove 8,000 miles clearing roads. There were 2,300 gallons of gasoline and 140 gallons of diesel fuel used. The crew spread 200 yards of abrasives mixed with six tons of salt and two tons of calcium chloride.