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Wednesday,December11, 2013
Area handles snow emergency with ease Harrison logs no wrecks during ice storm, record snow
Early Friday, Dec. 6, the first signs of what the Weather Channel dubbed phuelseman@registerpublications.com Winter Storm Dion descended upon Harrison and surrounding communities. The air swirled with an icy bite and Jack Frost reminded us all that St. Nicholas wasn’t the only one who comes out on Dec. 6. The storm created excitement and inconvenience but most area motorists took it in stride. By early afternoon, snow began to fall. At first, it was a gentle sprinkling, but the density quickly intensified. The snow continued to accumulate, reaching a record depth of 5.3” for Dec. 6 in Greater Cincinnati by midnight, according to the National Weather Service. The shattered record, from 1977, was 3.6.” Harry Meyers, Crosby Township maintenance, said that despite the storm’s intensity, the roads were cleared and remained safe with expert efficiency. “We just know what to do,” he said. “We’ve done this so long. Everybody knows when it starts snowing, get over here.” Crosby crews plowed from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., depositing about 20 tons of salt. That, he said, is nothing compared to the work required of the city of Harrison. Mike Dole, superintendent of the Harrison Service Department, said the road crew, seven strong, worked from early Friday morning depositing salt over the layer of ice that coated the roads. By 4:45 p.m., snow accumulated to the level that the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department issued a Level 2 snow emergency, indicating that drivers should only be on the roads in cases of emergency. Meanwhile, the Harrison road crew worked in shifts, salting and plowing roads through the night until early Saturday morning. Salt was laid sparingly because of budget cuts. Still, an excess of 100 tons was spread on Harrison roads. The crew focused on laying salt on hills, curves, and intersections so that drivers could easily stop. The rest was predominately plowed, said Dole. The formidable challenge that the storm presented was keeping roads cleared for such an extensive amount of time. This storm, unlike other winter storms, lasted for hours. Crews had to maintain a constant presence on the roads, ensuring they remain safe for drivers. Though several cars were sighted stranded in ditches along Interstate74 between New Haven Road and the I-74 and Interstate 75 split, no injuries or damages were reported to Harrison police. Patricia Huelseman Harrison Press Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY PATRICIA HUELSEMAN/Harrison Press
Above: crews worked continuously from Friday, Dec. 6, into early Saturday, Dec. 7, keeping the roads safe for drivers in Harrison and throughout the area. Left: Bruce Ullrey, Harrison, battles snow and ice before his commute to work Friday evening.
Today, the roads are clear and safe, but residents are not out of winter’s clutches
yet. With expected temperatures as low as -1 for Wednesday, Greater Harri-
son can expect to bundle up while winter winds continue to whirl.
Robertson honored with Community Service Award Patricia Huelseman Harrison Press Staff Writer phuelseman@registerpublications.com
Jim “Scoop” Robertson has been named the recipient of the Harrison Village Historical Society’s Community Service Award for a lifetime of contributions to Harrison.
He was honored with the recognition at the Annual Dinner Meeting Tuesday, Dec. 3. “Jim has always valued history and has done a good job promoting his love of history to all age levels,” said Mary Lou Smith, president of the historical society. For Robertson, community service is nothing new. For the past 18 years, he has been a member of city council. Robertson currently is a member of the Budget and Finance Committee, Personnel Committee, TIRC Committee, Building and Lands Committee, the ICRC Cable Television Committee, Technology Committee, Law Committee, and Recreation Committee.
INSIDE See Page 10 for photos of Harrison Christmas Parade Copyright Register Publications, 2013
89th Year, No. 47
Robertson said a large part of being in city government is stepping up and helping out where needed. “Sometimes, it’s taking care of the little things. It’s making sure that we got the sound system hooked up playing the music at Christmastime,” he said. Or it’s making sure, he explains, that details of an event are addressed. At the Christmas tree lighting on Saturday, Dec. 7, for example, Scoop was responsible with the street department to get the stage set up in the right spot.
munity service started about 41 years ago when I put the red suit on for Christmas,” he said. The first time he wore the Santa suit, he was Santa for triplets that were 2 years old. He had such fun, he couldn’t give it up. Since then, he’s been Santa for K of C, local churches, AMVETS, for anyone who needs a Santa. He even helped initiate the Story Time with Santa at the Harrison Library. “I’ve always wanted to help out the community,” said Robertson.
Taking care of business
Influenced by dad
He also worked with the musical group, getting the piano positioned correctly, and even making sure group members would have proper lighting so they could see their music. Much of what he does is behind the scenes. There’s an old saying, he states, “We all can’t be first violinists in the orchestra, some of us have got to push the wind through the trombone.” And that is just what he does. Scoop has been doing this behind the scenes stuff for a lot more than 18 years. “Probably my beginnings with com-
He remembers that his dad was always involved in coaching children’s sports and with charity functions like the Mayor’s Fund. When his father passed away in Robertson’s sophomore year of high school, he found escape in involving himself in more and more school functions. “I was pouring myself into a whole lot of stuff at school basically to keep from coming home,” he said.
Robertson, See PAGE 9
PHOTO BY JENNY AWAD/Harrison Press
Jim Robertson accepts the Community Service Award from Mary Lou Smith, president of the Harrison Village Historical Society.
What caused the blackout Dec. 3? Tuesday, Dec. 3, about 6 p.m., residents in the Harrison area experienced a phuelseman@registerpublications.com blackout that lasted about 1 1/2 hours, but the reason remains unclear. Although many theories have surfaced there is no exact explanation. Patricia Huelseman Harrison Press Staff Writer
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Several Harrison residents reported seeing a bright blue flash in the sky, especially near K-mart, just moments before the city went black. Others witnessed transformers blow on Carolina Trace Road. Duke Energy Spokeswoman Sally Thelen said there was
Blackout, See PAGE 9
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