Page 1 - April Banner 2018_Neat

APRIL 2018 | Vol. 23 | Issue 4 | Mail Run: 8,466 | Total Print Run: 11,500

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Mother Nature Had Other Plans

inside

this issue Spring Snow Dumps An A verage

of 20 Inches on Region

Who’s
James Rada, Jr.
on the Courtesy Photo

Ballot for It was supposed to be the to cause plenty of problems.
first day of spring on March The mountain roads definitely
Northern 21. Instead, the region got presented more than their
snow, probably more snow usual obstacles, and all of
Frederick than we saw all winter— them had to be closed at some
County? when it’s actually supposed point, including Rt. 116 to
to snow—and it continued Blue Ridge Summit and MD
snowing into the second day 550 to Sabillasville.
— See page 10 of spring. Schools were closed. The National Weather
Events were canceled. There Service put the snow totals
were lots of accidents. for many places in the
One accident that got county at more than 20
The some national exposure was inches, but Thurmont Chief
the school bus crash on MD Administrative Officer Jim
Town of 77, shortly before 4:00 p.m. Humerick said Thurmont got
on March 20. The driver lost 11 inches.
Thurmont control of the vehicle, about a The heavy snow also
Receives mile west of Pryor Road. The brought down power lines in
bus veered off the winding some areas. The Maryland
Award road into Big Hunting Creek. State Highway Administration
Luckily, the driver wasn’t confirmed that besides the
injured, and no children were MD 77 closure due to the
— See page 12 on the bus at the time. The bus crash, MD 550 was closed an
was damaged, though, and Andrea and Tommy Webb’s dog, Sadie, was just as surprised hour later due to a utility pole
MD 77 had to be closed. Traffic by the spring snow as we all were. coming down.
was detoured while the bus was Emmitsburg and Thurmont
pulled out of the creek. Riffle drove us for sporting events in were able to keep their roads cleared
2018 Plans Having lived on the mountain all sorts of weather.” better since their crews are not as
in Foxville while growing up, The She reminisced, “For the longest spread out as county and state crews.
for 62 Catoctin Banner Publisher Deb time, I believed my father when he Humerick said that in Thurmont,
nd
Community Abraham Spalding said, “It’s not said he had four kids so he could besides having full public works
uncommon to have more snow on
crews plowing during the day,
weigh down the station wagon to
Show Are the mountain than in the lower areas. make it up the mountain in snow. I nine employees stayed overnight
This makes school bus navigation survived many memorably terrifying to try and keep up with plowing
Underway tricky for bus drivers who drive the adventures in the back of that station Thurmont’s roads.
mountain. My bus drivers, brothers wagon, while Dad yelled, ‘Hang on!’ “We concentrated on the main
Glenn DeLauter (late) and Paul as he gunned the engine and fish- roads first and then worked our way
— See page 19 DeLauter, used chains when I was tailed the vehicle up to our house on back to clearing the cul de sacs,”
riding the bus, and we still got stuck, Tower Road. I can laugh about that Humerick said. “Our guys took extra
sometimes. Also, Shirley and Frank now, and I’m sure many people can care to try and make sure that they
relate.” didn’t plow anyone’s driveway in.”
This school bus accident was just After two days of snow, the sun
one of hundreds of accidents that came out, and temperatures warmed
Residential Customer
occurred in Frederick County during up enough that the snow began to
E D D M
301-447-2804
the spring snow. Northern Frederick melt, helping to clear the roads even
P A I D
www.TheCatoctinBanner.com
County didn’t get as much snow, more, and to raise hopes that spring
U.S.POSTAGE
Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727
in general, as the rest of the county is truly on the way.
ECRWSS
515B East Main Street
and points west, but it was enough — See more snow photos on page 18
PRSRT STD
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