Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski The parking lot behind the Shawano Fire Station is cleared of snow early Thursday afternoon. Snow plows were scouring the county after a winter storm blew through the area overnight.
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Traffic holds steady on Highway 29 on Thursday afternoon just east of Shawano. Most roads were clear after several inches of snow fell overnight, but a few roads still had some slick spots.
What is hoped to have been the last winter storm of the season dumped less snow than expected in Shawano County on Wednesday night and into Thursday.
There was no official total available, but there were estimates of 5 to 6 inches in much of the county, with some areas getting hit harder, anywhere from 8 to 11 inches. As much as 14 inches had been predicted.
The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department reported 14 minor accidents by early Thursday afternoon, mostly involving vehicles sliding off the road. No injuries were reported.
However, a three-vehicle crash was reported just before 1:30 p.m. on state Highway 156, about 2 miles north of Pulaski. One person was reported trapped in their vehicle with a leg injury.
It was not clear if the crash was weather-related and was still being investigated Thursday afternoon. The crash closed down the eastbound lane of Highway 156.
Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy George Lenzner said many motorists seemed to be staying off the roads Thursday morning.
There had been several days advance notice of the pending storm, which gave people a chance to make plans to stay in, Lenzner said.
Highway Commissioner Grant Bystol said plow drivers had reported noticeably less traffic than usual.
“They stayed home and let us do our job,” he said.
Highway crews were out as early as 5 p.m. Wednesday in the western portion of the county, where the snow first started falling.
Crews on Thursday afternoon were still working the eastern part of the county, where open farm country allowed for a heavier build-up of blowing snow on the roads. Winds were reported gusting as high as 24 miles per hour.
“We’re still dealing with those trouble spots,” Bystol said. “Otherwise, things went well.”
Things also went smoothly in the city, according to Eddie Sheppard, public works coordinator.
Crews were out at 3 a.m. Thursday, with most of the plowing wrapped up by 10 a.m.
Crews were doing some touch-ups and putting down salt in a few trouble spots Thursday afternoon, Sheppard said.
The storm closed a number of area school districts outside the city Thursday. Some districts were on spring break.
A number of community events in Shawano and Menominee counties were also canceled.