Snow warnings
Make sure fire hydrants are clear of snow
MONROE - As the snow begins to accumulate on the ground, the City of Monroe Fire Department reminds citizen to keep snow piles clear from fire hydrants. The Fire Department is asking those with fire hydrants on their property to keep them accessible in the event of an emergency. Locating a buried hydrant and making it accessible takes time. The department urges everyone to take the extra time to keep the fire hydrants in the city clear and accessible.
Snow delays garbage pickup
MONROE - There was no garbage pickup Wednesday in Monroe. People can put out two bags of garbage Wednesday, Dec. 16. A sticker will not be needed for the second bag.
MONROE - First came the snow, now the cold.
The region was brought to a standstill Wednesday by the heavy, wet snow that fell Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. During that period, according to the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Monroe, 12 inches of snow fell.
That and the prospect of strong winds later Wednesday was enough to cancel all schools in the area, local banks and a number of meetings and events.
The weather won't be any better today. Bitter cold temperatures are following the snow, with thermometer readings expected to stay in single digits Thursday and well into Friday. Wind chills today are expected to reach 24 degrees below zero.
The good news? We're out of the blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) that included Green and Lafayette counties until midnight Wednesday.
Green County Highway Superintendent Dick Marty said crews started to plow state roads at 4 a.m. Wednesday and began plowing county roads at about 5 a.m. Crews stayed out until about 5 p.m., and were heading back out at the same times Thursday, to clear any new or drifted snow.
By Wednesday afternoon, all of the county's roads had been cleared, but some north-south roads could experience icing conditions, Marty said.
Drivers need to slow down even though a road might look clear, because the expected drop in temperatures could cause the packed snow on roads to freeze, he said. In addition, the colder temperatures can reduce the effectiveness of salt, which was spread on all county and state roads.
"You get that false sense of security," Marty said.
The storm caused power outages to about 1,700 Alliant Energy customers in Green County and about 25 customers in Lafayette County, company spokesman Scott Reigstad said. The power outages in Green County were in the Brodhead, Monroe, Woodford and Browntown areas.
About 175 Rock Energy Co-op customers lost power in rural areas north of Brodhead, according to Barb Uebelacker, Rock Energy communication specialist. Power was expected to be restored by Wednesday evening. However, the conditions still might create problems, as heavy snow on trees combined with the anticipated high winds could cause more trees to fall on power lines, she said.
Several accidents were reported, and about a dozen vehicles went into ditches, according to the Green County Sheriff's Department.
In Green County:
• Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident at about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday on Wisconsin 11 at County M in Cadiz township. Deputies report an eastbound vehicle driven by Jon C. Baker, 47, Browntown, crossed the center line and hit a westbound vehicle driven by Tina M. VanRaalte, 27, Scales Mound, Ill. Baker and his passenger, Denise A. Baker, 49, Browntown, were taken to Monroe Clinic hospital by Green County Emergency Medical Services. Baker's vehicle received extensive damage and was towed. VanRaalte's vehicle received moderate damage. Snow and ice on the road were contributing factors.
• No one was injured in a two-vehicle accident at about 5 p.m. Tuesday in the N7700 block of Sandy Hook Road in Brooklyn township. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Derek A. Furniss, 21, Albany, was westbound on County C when it failed to negotiate a curve, left the road and hit a car parked inside a garage owned by Nancy A. Beckwith. Beckwith's vehicle received extensive damage. The garage also was damaged. Furniss' vehicle received moderate damage. Both vehicles were towed. Furniss was cited for driving too fast for conditions and was released pending court.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 8 a.m. Tuesday on County G just north of Town Center Road. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Hailey C. Pinnow, 17, Brodhead, left the road and hit an embankment due to slippery road conditions. The vehicle received minor damage and was towed.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday on Allison Road in Washington township. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Day M. Fandrich, 33, Monroe, left the road and slid into a ditch due to slippery road conditions. The vehicle received extensive damage and was towed.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 5 p.m. Tuesday in the N7500 block of Wis. 104. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Brenda J. Kirby, 47, Brodhead, slid into a ditch due to slippery road conditions. The vehicle received moderate damage and was towed.
Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said about 20 cars were stranded on the road in the N8000 block of Wis. 69 at about 4:15 a.m. Wednesday in the area near the New Glarus Woods. The Green County Highway Department assisted to get traffic moving.
Roderick said it appeared to him that people wisely stayed off the road Tuesday night.
In Monroe, three accidents were reported due to slippery road conditions. The Monroe Police Department reported:
• One person was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on Wis. 11 near 6th Avenue West. A vehicle driven by Judith J. Schwarz, 55, Monroe, slid and hit a sign. One person was injured but declined medical treatment. No further information was available.
• No one was injured in a two-vehicle accident at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at 16th Street and Wis. 69. Vehicles driven by Andrew C. Ericksen, 56, Monroe, and Theresa K. Seichter, 18, Monroe, collided. The vehicles received moderate damage.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 11 a.m. Tuesday at 18th Avenue and 25th Street. A vehicle driven by Elizabeth R. Siedschlag, 17, Monroe, slid and hit a large rock. The vehicle received moderate damage.
The Lafayette County Sheriff's Department reported roads to be snow covered and slippery Wednesday.
In Lafayette County:
• A tanker truck loaded with propane went off the road and rolled onto its side at about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday on Wis. 81 in Elk Grove township. Traffic on Wis. 81 was rerouted for several hours. Platteville, Cuba City and Belmont fire departments assisted at the scene. Cuba City EMS assisted the driver, who had minor injuries. JoDaviess County's HazMat team also assisted. No further information was available.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 11 a.m. Tuesday on Wis. 126 in Belmont. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Kyle L. Wedig, 18, Oregon, went into a ditch and hit a fence due to slippery road conditions. The vehicle received moderate damage and was towed.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 11:45 a.m. Tuesday on Gould Hill Road in Blanchard township. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Matthew D. Johnson, 38, Barneveld. No further information was available.
Also, the storm caused all area schools to close, and organizations to reschedule events.
The Green County Board of Supervisors rescheduled its monthly meeting Tuesday. The board will meet at 7:30 p.m. today at the Green County Courthouse.
The Monroe Clinic expansion groundbreaking planned for Wednesday was rescheduled for 2:30 p.m. today in the clinic lobby.
The region was brought to a standstill Wednesday by the heavy, wet snow that fell Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. During that period, according to the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Monroe, 12 inches of snow fell.
That and the prospect of strong winds later Wednesday was enough to cancel all schools in the area, local banks and a number of meetings and events.
The weather won't be any better today. Bitter cold temperatures are following the snow, with thermometer readings expected to stay in single digits Thursday and well into Friday. Wind chills today are expected to reach 24 degrees below zero.
The good news? We're out of the blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) that included Green and Lafayette counties until midnight Wednesday.
Green County Highway Superintendent Dick Marty said crews started to plow state roads at 4 a.m. Wednesday and began plowing county roads at about 5 a.m. Crews stayed out until about 5 p.m., and were heading back out at the same times Thursday, to clear any new or drifted snow.
By Wednesday afternoon, all of the county's roads had been cleared, but some north-south roads could experience icing conditions, Marty said.
Drivers need to slow down even though a road might look clear, because the expected drop in temperatures could cause the packed snow on roads to freeze, he said. In addition, the colder temperatures can reduce the effectiveness of salt, which was spread on all county and state roads.
"You get that false sense of security," Marty said.
The storm caused power outages to about 1,700 Alliant Energy customers in Green County and about 25 customers in Lafayette County, company spokesman Scott Reigstad said. The power outages in Green County were in the Brodhead, Monroe, Woodford and Browntown areas.
About 175 Rock Energy Co-op customers lost power in rural areas north of Brodhead, according to Barb Uebelacker, Rock Energy communication specialist. Power was expected to be restored by Wednesday evening. However, the conditions still might create problems, as heavy snow on trees combined with the anticipated high winds could cause more trees to fall on power lines, she said.
Several accidents were reported, and about a dozen vehicles went into ditches, according to the Green County Sheriff's Department.
In Green County:
• Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident at about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday on Wisconsin 11 at County M in Cadiz township. Deputies report an eastbound vehicle driven by Jon C. Baker, 47, Browntown, crossed the center line and hit a westbound vehicle driven by Tina M. VanRaalte, 27, Scales Mound, Ill. Baker and his passenger, Denise A. Baker, 49, Browntown, were taken to Monroe Clinic hospital by Green County Emergency Medical Services. Baker's vehicle received extensive damage and was towed. VanRaalte's vehicle received moderate damage. Snow and ice on the road were contributing factors.
• No one was injured in a two-vehicle accident at about 5 p.m. Tuesday in the N7700 block of Sandy Hook Road in Brooklyn township. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Derek A. Furniss, 21, Albany, was westbound on County C when it failed to negotiate a curve, left the road and hit a car parked inside a garage owned by Nancy A. Beckwith. Beckwith's vehicle received extensive damage. The garage also was damaged. Furniss' vehicle received moderate damage. Both vehicles were towed. Furniss was cited for driving too fast for conditions and was released pending court.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 8 a.m. Tuesday on County G just north of Town Center Road. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Hailey C. Pinnow, 17, Brodhead, left the road and hit an embankment due to slippery road conditions. The vehicle received minor damage and was towed.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday on Allison Road in Washington township. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Day M. Fandrich, 33, Monroe, left the road and slid into a ditch due to slippery road conditions. The vehicle received extensive damage and was towed.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 5 p.m. Tuesday in the N7500 block of Wis. 104. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Brenda J. Kirby, 47, Brodhead, slid into a ditch due to slippery road conditions. The vehicle received moderate damage and was towed.
Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said about 20 cars were stranded on the road in the N8000 block of Wis. 69 at about 4:15 a.m. Wednesday in the area near the New Glarus Woods. The Green County Highway Department assisted to get traffic moving.
Roderick said it appeared to him that people wisely stayed off the road Tuesday night.
In Monroe, three accidents were reported due to slippery road conditions. The Monroe Police Department reported:
• One person was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on Wis. 11 near 6th Avenue West. A vehicle driven by Judith J. Schwarz, 55, Monroe, slid and hit a sign. One person was injured but declined medical treatment. No further information was available.
• No one was injured in a two-vehicle accident at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at 16th Street and Wis. 69. Vehicles driven by Andrew C. Ericksen, 56, Monroe, and Theresa K. Seichter, 18, Monroe, collided. The vehicles received moderate damage.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 11 a.m. Tuesday at 18th Avenue and 25th Street. A vehicle driven by Elizabeth R. Siedschlag, 17, Monroe, slid and hit a large rock. The vehicle received moderate damage.
The Lafayette County Sheriff's Department reported roads to be snow covered and slippery Wednesday.
In Lafayette County:
• A tanker truck loaded with propane went off the road and rolled onto its side at about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday on Wis. 81 in Elk Grove township. Traffic on Wis. 81 was rerouted for several hours. Platteville, Cuba City and Belmont fire departments assisted at the scene. Cuba City EMS assisted the driver, who had minor injuries. JoDaviess County's HazMat team also assisted. No further information was available.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 11 a.m. Tuesday on Wis. 126 in Belmont. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Kyle L. Wedig, 18, Oregon, went into a ditch and hit a fence due to slippery road conditions. The vehicle received moderate damage and was towed.
• No one was injured in a one-vehicle accident at about 11:45 a.m. Tuesday on Gould Hill Road in Blanchard township. Deputies report a vehicle driven by Matthew D. Johnson, 38, Barneveld. No further information was available.
Also, the storm caused all area schools to close, and organizations to reschedule events.
The Green County Board of Supervisors rescheduled its monthly meeting Tuesday. The board will meet at 7:30 p.m. today at the Green County Courthouse.
The Monroe Clinic expansion groundbreaking planned for Wednesday was rescheduled for 2:30 p.m. today in the clinic lobby.