Richmond weathers Wednesday's blizzard

By Matt Sonnenberg

February 15, 2008 | RICHMOND -- Schools and businesses were slowed in Richmond by Wednesday's blizzard that hit Cache Valley with over five inches of snow. Several operations in Richmond were either slowed or cancelled outright because of the severity of the storm.

The Cache County School District cancelled all after-school activities for North Cache Center in order to get all students home safely during the storm. According to a secretary at North Cache, the school buses were able to get students home without any complications other than the extra time it took to drive safely.

"There were some calls (from parents) because they were a little slow," she said.

One local business felt the effect of the snowstorm as well in a record-setting way. Lucas Beckstead, a supervisor at Big J Burgers said, "Slowest night we've ever had." Only one worker was delayed enough to be late for work that evening Beckstead said, however it seemed as though the majority of customers stayed in for the evening.

"Money-wise it was the least amount ever for lunch," Beckstead said.

While local schools and businesses were suffering the effects of the storm, Richmond city officials weathered the storm without closing down any of its operations earlier than normal. There was one delay however, as snowplows in the city were forced to cease operation for a period of time in the evening hours.

"They did have to quit in the evening because of the (wind) blowing," City Manager Marlowe Adkins said. The snowplows resumed operation and worked until the early hours of the morning to clear the roads of snow.

Adkins also said that there were no traffic accidents related to the storm that he was aware of.

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