Foot of snow buries Kiel

KIEL - Kiel residents dug out Wednesday morning.

“A little bit of work,” said Kiel resident David Sander.

Winter Storm Doug buried the city in 12 inches of snow.

“I knew we were going to get a little bit, but I didn't think we were going to get this much!” Kiel resident Ben Gries said.

Neither did Kiel Area School District Superintendent Jack Lewis.

“I had several not pleasant phone calls yesterday,” said Lewis.

Lewis says the districts in the area planned to keep kids for the full day Tuesday.

”I came to school with the idea - I think the forecast predicted snow starting 2, 3 o'clock and then overnight and today,” Lewis said.

The snow did not stop, and neither did school.

Officials decided it was best to let the road crews do their work.

Lewis says parents were frustrated with the situation.

And one bus with eight students on board went in the ditch—but they were not hurt.

Wednesday, Lewis decided on a two hour delay.

“Give folks a chance to clean up, get their driveways out, the road crews busy and get done,” said Lewis.

The gradual buildup of snow during the storm meant the city plows had to keep pace. The day after the storm, it was a matter of tying up loose ends.

“Cul de sacs, things of that nature, and tomorrow morning we'll be taking snow off our Main Street,” said Public Works Director Randy Neils.

Residents clearing sidewalks and driveways say cleanup isn't as bad as when the first winter storm came dumping wet, heavy snow.

“Actually it's a lot easier than the first snow storm we got because the snow is kind of fluffy,” said Gries.

But it still presented challenges for Sander.

“Here in front of the garage was a five foot snow bank so I had to get out and shovel it couldn't snow blow it yet because I couldn't get into the garage,” said Sander.

Cleanup continued into the afternoon, and with the sun shining many felt it won't be long before the remnants of Doug melt away.