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Last Thursday's (Jan. 9) snow storm moved into Jackson County earlier than predicted, bringing with it lines at the grocery stores, treacherous road conditions and piles of winter white. Some 6 inches of snow were reported on Soco Mountain, with 4 on Balsam and around 3 in the rest of the county, according to Edwin Austin, DOT county maintenance supervisor. Some secondary paved roads remained troublesome for travelers throughout the weekend as salt didn't work due to low temperatures, which reached below-zero figures. Road-clearing crews were back out late Saturday night when more snow produced a dusting across the county. Numerous wrecks were reported all over the county, although none were serious, according to N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Steve Allred. Troopers worked Friday cleaning up wrecks they weren't able to get to Thursday, he said, and those who ventured out Friday found abandoned cars along the roadsides. The storm proved to be a "non-event" for Duke Power officials since the snow was dry rather than wet. "Wet, clinging snow is the bane of power lines, building up on lines and causing top-heavy trees to fall onto lines," said Fred Alexander, Duke's Nantahala Area district manager. |