If you were impressed with how clear city streets were Thursday morning, you can thank McMinnville’s Public Works Department.
City employees reported to work Wednesday when the snow began to fall and were out all night plowing the roads.
“The guys started working at around 9 p.m. Wednesday night,” said Public Works assistant director Brad Hennessee. “They started working and kept going until about 4 a.m. Thursday morning. It was them. It wasn’t me. They are generally willing to do whatever it takes.”
City snowplows were active Thursday morning clearing the streets and even parking spaces around downtown and Court Square. Several workers equipped with snow shovels were clearing downtown sidewalks.
The 2-3 inches of snow that accumulated around the county didn't seem to hamper motorists Thursday morning. McMinnville Police Department and the 911 Center say there was very little trouble on the roads.
"We haven't gotten very many calls today at all," 911 employee Valerie Womack said Thursday afternoon. "When the snow first started falling Wednesday night, we had six or seven calls for stranded motorists and minor accidents. In one case a motorist couldn't make it up a hill, things like that. The calls were all pretty much between 7 p.m. and midnight on Wednesday night."
Director of Schools Bobby Cox said schools will be closed Friday because of problem areas in Viola, Irving College and Rock Island. The school system still has one bad-weather day remaining.