Friday, February 12, 2010

EDITORIAL >> Blizzard of 2010 is now history

The worst of the blizzard of 2010 appears to be over. The kids are back in school and the streets are clear. Some cities did better than others making the roads navigable: While the smaller towns around here, like elsewhere, lacked the equipment to get snow off the roads, or even throw salt on them, we commend those local street department that went the extra mile and made our roads safe.

Jacksonville and Cabot crews threw sand down major thoroughfares, and thanks to modern technology, the sand has chemicals that melt the snow, helping most of us get to work and avoid fender benders. Jacksonville crews also used road graders to remove the snow, making travel that much easier.

Jim Durham, Jacksonville’s city administrator, praised road crews, who worked 12-hour shifts for several days this week, just like crews in big cities, where snow removal often determines the future of mayors. If they’re slow to respond in a blizzard, they lose.

We’ve never seen roads cleared this fast in Jacksonville. Thanks to all the hard-working city employees who braved the elements and made life easier for the rest of us.