“Deep Freeze”
(Bruce Yarnall photo)
Just as the sun was breaking the eastern plane Wednesday morning, the time/temperature sign at Belmont Savings Bank on East Main Street registered a frigid 7 below zero. The temperature did rise to the low teens during the afternoon “warm up”.
by Bruce Yarnall, Barnesville Area News
In person classes at area schools this week did not begin until Thursday morning and, even then, classes were on a two-hour delay.
Several businesses were closed on Tuesday, some extending to Wednesday too.
While Barnesville Booster Club Bingo was cancelled Wednesday evening, the sports programs the bingo games support were held despite the fact classes were suspended during the school day.
The coldest morning was Wednesday when some weather services indicated the temperature in Barnesville was 10- or 11-below. According to Jeff Oechslein, WTOV meteorologist, the last time it was that cold in the region was in 2014 while the last time it was colder than that was in January 1994 when the low temperature was 22 below and the temperature did not rise above zero for two days.
At daybreak Wednesday, the time/temperature sign at Belmont Savings Bank logged 7 below. The sign at WesBanco is temperature sensitive and malfunctioning at the time.
During frigid weather, fire is an ever-present threat. During Wednesday’s frigid temperatures a fire in Lore City of a two-story residence. Fire departments from six communities including Quaker City battled the fire for over four hours. The occupants of the residence escaped unharmed but the structure was a total loss.
And midday Wednesday Barnesville, Bethesda, Somerton and Belmont County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence at 37549 Barnesville-Bethesda Road where sparks generated during a renovation project ignited a fire in the attic of the structure. Luckily, the fire was contained in short order.
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(Barnesville Friendly Liar’s Bench Facebook group photo)
In addition to fires, frozen water pipes and water distribution system water breaks are a constant occurrence during extreme weather. While major disruptions were experienced by some regional water systems, Barnesville and its affiliated systems fared better although Barnesville crews were called out to repair a break Friday night.
One citizen stating “these guys don’t get the recognition they deserve. 19° on a Friday night just so the residents of Barnesville can have water. Thank you for putting in all the hours and hard work to keep Barnesville’s water flowing.”
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Looking out for our fellow man takes no vacations during winter storms or frigid weather. On January 16 popular downtown Barnesville pizza shop posted that instead of a “January giveaway”, the business decided to “show appreciation to the Barnesville Water/Street Department for all of their hard work and countless hours always, but especially this time of year for keeping our roads clear and safe! Today, they are having pizza and breadsticks for lunch.”
Taking it a step further A.J. and Becky Corder, owners of Chestnut Lanes asked local residents to pay for large pizza’s and allow local residents who are in need to take the paid invoice and turn it in for a free meal.
On January 20 Corder wrote “There’s 25 XL Pizzas hanging on this door that are paid for by concerned citizens of Barnesville and then our match. The total is 50 XL pizzas. It’s freezing cold right now and only gonna get worse. Please by all means come get one if you’re struggling. Struggling with heat, water, bills, life.”
“If you know of someone too proud, come redeem it for them. We don’t do delivery but if someone is in need of a hot meal, we will get it to them.”
According to subsequent reports, the number of pizzas is now nearing the 100 mark.
(Facebook: Chestnut Lanes)
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(Facebook: Murray Stafford’s Ohio Valley Weather)
Local resident Carrie Secrest posted this photo of deer crossing a frozen Rotary Lake at Barnesville Memorial Park Sunday, January 12.
According to recent news reports, January 2025 is being described as the “coldest January since 2011” in the United States, with a large Arctic air outbreak sweeping across the country, making it significantly colder than the average January temperature.
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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
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Next Sunday, February 2 is Groundhog Day. What do you wager the wise old woodchuck will predict?
