Snow, Cancelations, Ice Rescue Highlights Week Impacted by Weather
(Barnesville Liar’s Bench Facebook photo)
A jackknifed semi and trailer blocked both lanes of SR 800 between Barnesville and Somerton Thursday morning as a second snowfall during the week closed schools and impacted travel and commerce.
Mother Nature continued to impact the lives of eastern Ohio residents this week continuing a pattern of winter weather that began the weekend before when the first snowstorm of the new year forced the cancellation of schools, sporting events, public meetings and many businesses.
Most schools were closed on Thursday while opening with a two-hour delay most other days of the week. .
Friday afternoon also brought the sounds of sirens pierced the wind as emergency crews responded to a call where a man who was ice fishing with his son on the Barnesville Number #1 Reservoir partially fell through the ice with the center of his body submerged. He was afraid to move fearing the ice would give way.
Barnesville Fire Chief Tim Hall reported the man was extracted using a small flat boat. He was taken to WVU Medicine/Barnesville Hospital before being life flighted to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
Afterwards, Hall released the following statement of thanks.
“We would like to thank our members and our mutual aid partners Bethesda, Cumberland Trail, Lafferty on helping during multiple calls this afternoon. Thank you to Barnesville Police, Barnesville Water, Belmont County Sheriff’s Office and Amanda and Lance Fisher for their assistance as well.”
At the same time, a head on accident on SR 800 near the Eastern Ohio Industrial Park also brought out the Ohio State Highway Patrol, emergency responders and tow trucks.
By Saturday morning, the temperatures were above freezing and rain was falling. The rain is expected to change over to snow before a deep freeze decends from the north. Overnight temperatures are expected to be near zero or below and daytime temperatures in the single digits or low teens.
Belmont County Emergency Management Services reminds there are warming centers located throughout the county that those in need may use. In western Belmont County they are:
- Bannock United Methodist Church, Bannock
- Shekinah Church, 145 W. Main Street, Barnesville
- Bethesda Village Community Room, 103 South Main Street
- Smith Township Fire Department, Centerville
- Flushing Fire Dept., 104 E. High Street
- Lafferty Fire Dept., 70191 Irwin Street
- Somerton Fire Department, 55717 Washington Street
