Jay Co. was digging out

Twenty-five years ago this week, Jay County was digging out from an ongoing stretch of snow.

The Dec. 20, 1995, issue of The Commercial Review featured a story about the inclement weather, noting that 7 inches of new snow had fallen the previous day. That precipitation followed days of ice and wind that had already left roads impassable and schools closed, with power outages widespread.

The harsh conditions had been especially harrowing for 88-year-old David Lea of rural Portland, who was listed in stable condition at Jay County Hospital after suffering hypothermia. He had fallen and was stuck on his partially enclosed porch for about 20 hours before his son found him unconscious.

“He was frozen stiff when I got there,” said Jay County Sheriff Kip Robinette. “We could hardly move his arms and legs.

“He was very, very cold to touch.”

Lea’s English sheepdog had apparently stayed at his side for most of the 20 hours.

The winter ice and snow storms had knocked out power for more than 1,000 Jay County REMC customers. As of Dec. 20, local crews were getting help from REMC employees from Plymouth, Rochester and Columbus to repair lines.

“I’d say by later afternoon we’ll have almost everybody back in service,” said Jay County REMC operations manager Doug Shidler.

County engineer Dan Watson reported that highway department crews had worked late into the night Dec. 19 in order to clear roads and were back on the job early the next day.

“All roads are open,” he said. “But they’ll be widening them out all day.”