Retrospect: Heavy snow shut down the county

Forty years ago this week, Jay County found itself buried in snow after 8 inches blitzed the area over the weekend.

Snow and frigid temperatures resulted in hazardous road conditions and left Jay Schools closed for the entire week.

The Jan. 10, 1977, edition of The Commercial Review reported city, state and school officials were in full agreement Monday morning that the 8 inches of snow dumped on the county over the weekend created poor road conditions.

Indiana State Police Sargent Frank Ballard labeled state roads as slick and hazardous. The weather closed most county roads and left travel on some state roads limited to one lane of traffic, Ballard indicated.

Meanwhile, Jay County Highway Department and City of Portland crews worked to fight the conditions but snow removal appeared to go slowly.

Even so, motorists seemed to heed travel warnings with just one snow-related accident over the weekend. Jay Emergency Medical Service reported no snow-related emergency runs, and ambulances were able to answer all other calls.

“People seem to be getting along really well,” said Kathryn Dawson, Jay County Civil Defense director. “Especially when taking advice to stay home.”

Jay County continued to dig its way out of the snow throughout the week.

Pictures in Tuesday’s newspaper showed residents removing the latest, wind-blown layer of snow and reported many business were still operating with less than full staffs.

Jay Schools superintendent Loren Betz said the cancellations would not require any revisions to the school’s calendar.