Tuesday, March 18, 2025
26.0°F

Snowstorm wallops community, wreaks havoc

EVIE SEABERG | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO
by EVIE SEABERG
I graduated from California Baptist University in April 2021 and was ready for a change of scenery, which is what brought me to North Idaho. Currently, I’m enjoying being newly married. My husband and I spend our weekends huckleberry picking, working on home improvement projects, taking my husky Judah on walks, spoiling our kitten Opal, and making plans to travel while we earn the means to do so. I love hanging out with family, studying indigenous arts and culture, going on outdoor adventures and creating wood-burning projects. I’m also always down for a casual debate about anything from philosophy and politics to the best local coffee shops. My childhood was filled with dreams of working in almost every field — archeologist, architect, writer, historian, aviator and mathematician were just a few titles I hoped to hold one day. After my first semester in college, I found myself wondering how choosing a major was ever going to be in the cards for me. But, with a little help from friends and family, I realized that the title of “journalist” is a good title for someone who is interested in a little bit of everything. When you can’t be everything, you can always write about everything. | January 18, 2024 1:00 AM

SANDPOINT — With anywhere from seven to 12 inches of snow in Bonner County, closures and cancellations were a common occurrence Wednesday.

Lake Pend Oreille School District announced its closure early Wednesday morning, saying that heavy accumulation of snow expected in the afternoon would not allow for bus routes to safely get students home. 

Similarly, West Bonner County School District closed for the day and canceled its annual board of trustee meeting scheduled for Wednesday night, rescheduling it for Jan. 22. 

Road conditions were as expected, Heather McDaniel, Idaho Transportation Department public information officer, said.

“Despite our best efforts to prepare ahead of time the storm and snow is accumulating at a rate that is outpacing our force this afternoon, so we are doing our best to keep lanes passable for vehicles, and hope to take advantage of any breaks in the weather later on tonight and tomorrow to catch up,” she said.

The snow paired with the low temperatures decreases the effectiveness of de-icing materials, which prompted ITD to supplement with sand to help increase traction, McDaniel said. 

The snow created sloppy conditions region-wide with numerous accidents reported throughout the county, prompting several Nixle alerts warning drivers that roads had been closed. Among the alerts was one for a fatal accident near Hope on Highway 200.

“If you must drive today, please use caution and drive carefully, in consideration of weather and some difficult road conditions,” Bonner County Sheriff’s Office officials said in an alert shortly after 11 a.m.

Chet Jackman, street supervisor for the city of Sandpoint, gave an update on street care at Wednesday night's city council meeting. While the city is currently out of a blower, he said his team acquired a rental Wednesday. Crews will be out Wednesday night working on downtown streets, he said. 

Schweitzer officials reported over eight inches of snow, with more on the way Wednesday evening.

“It was a really fun day out on the mountain and it seemed like hardly anyone was here,” officials said on the Schweitzer website. 

For Thursday’s forecast, the National Weather Service is predicting patchy blowing snow, partly sunny skies with a high temperature near 17 degrees. Wind chill values could be as low as negative 8 degrees. Winds are expected to be blustery, with north winds from 14 to 18 miles per hour and gusts as high as 31 miles per hour.

    A trio walks along First Avenue mid-afternoon on Wednesday as a snowstorm blanketed the region throughout the day.
 
 
    Drivers inch their way down Third Avenue Wednesday afternoon after the region got more than eight inches of snow as part of a weather system that made its way through the region.
 
 


MORE FRONT-PAGE-SLIDER STORIES

Blizzard warning issued for Flathead Valley
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 1 year, 2 months ago
Sagle fire destroys two homes
Bonner County Daily Bee | Updated 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Sagle fire destroys two homes
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 7 months, 2 weeks ago

ARTICLES BY EVIE SEABERG

City to consider Blackrock presentation, change orders
June 19, 2024 1 a.m.

City to consider Blackrock presentation, change orders

A presentation on a cleanup plan for the Panhandle Smelting and Refining Company Site will be given at Thursday’s Sandpoint City Council meeting.

Sandpoint mayor cancels remote comments
June 18, 2024 1 a.m.

Sandpoint mayor cancels remote comments

Commenting on the city's public meetings remotely will no longer be permitted as of the June 5 council meeting. This decision was made by Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm after “disturbing” comments were made by remote commenters at the May 15 meeting regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. That meeting marks the second occurrence of such comments since last fall.

Idahope Families celebrates local resources
June 19, 2024 1 a.m.

Idahope Families celebrates local resources

Keeping children safe and families together — that’s the mission of local organization Idahope Families.