Winter weather not putting the freeze on Scugog's budget

But at least one road project may have to be deferred to 2008 because of the snow, ice
Tue Dec 04, 2007

SCUGOG -- The wintery weather that settled over Scugog the last week or so hasn't plowed through too much of the Township's cash but it might put a freeze on at least one municipal project.

When asked at Monday's municipal committees meeting what impact the recent blast of snowy and icy weather has had on the Township's winter control budget, Gene Chartier coolly noted that there should be enough funds on hand to get Scugog through to the end of this fiscal period, which expires Dec. 31.

For 2007, Mr. Chartier, the Township's commissioner of planning and public works, earmarked about $497,500 to deal with cleaning up winter weather events.

"We're under the snow budget, (the recent snow and ice storms) shouldn't have an impact, per se, on that aspect of the department," he answered, in reply to a question from Regional Councillor Jim McMillen.

"We're coming closer to the budget than anticipated, but it shouldn't be an issue," he said, pointing out there's still sufficient funds to cover costs associated with staff and materials.

Mr. Chartier later informed councillors the Township's sand domes were not currently bursting at the seams, full of stock. But, he assured them, there is enough cash on hand, about $60,000, to get the municipality into 2008, at which point the Township can then begin drawing funds from the new budget.

His comments were offered mid-morning on Monday, as the swirling snow flurries visible through the large windows of the council chambers garnered comparisons to the flakes found in a well-shaken snow-globe.

The only casualty of the early winter weather might be work scheduled for Summitt Drive in Caesarea. A couple other paving projects have been recently wrapped up, but the Caesarea project may have to be deferred until 2008, said Mr. Chartier.

Source : http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/scugog/article/90336

ND bracing for more wintry weather

The Associated Press

December 04, 2007

FARGO, N.D.

Eastern North Dakota was bracing for as much as 8 inches of new snow on Tuesday, after record snowfall in Grand Forks and Fargo over the weekend.

The National Weather Service posted a variety of winter weather advisories for the state. Parts of the northeast including Grand Forks could get up to 8 inches of snow, with the rest of eastern North Dakota getting up to 6 inches, forecasters said.

Sheriff's dispatchers reported up to 3 inches of snow in many counties, including Barnes, Cass, Ramsey and Traill, early Tuesday.

"It's coming down pretty good," Grand Forks meteorologist Tom Grafenauer said mid-Tuesday morning. "There's quarter- to half-mile visibility in the heavier band."

At least one school - Minto - canceled classes Tuesday. Highway speeds in the Grand Forks area were reduced to about 50 mph, according to the Highway Patrol.

Several accidents were reported in the Fargo-Moorhead area, including one in which a vehicle hit a power pole in north Moorhead and knocked power lines down across the road. Traffic had to be diverted.

Grafenauer said wind was not a problem in the east, but gusts in the southwest were expected to reach 40 mph.

Western and central North Dakota were bracing for freezing rain and up to 2 inches of snow.

"The state should have quite a range of weather," said Rich Leblang, a weather service meteorologist in Bismarck.

The weather service said the 7.4 inches of snow Saturday in Fargo topped the record 2.8 inches for the date set in 1985, and the 0.67 inches of precipitation it brought topped the 0.48-inch record set in 1909.

The 6.4 inches at the Grand Forks airport Saturday also set a record for the date in that city, breaking the previous mark of 0.7 inches in 1990, Grafenauer said.

Al Weigel, operations manager for Fargo's public works department, said street crews were busy Monday hauling piled snow away from the downtown area and residential cul-de-sacs after clearing the streets Sunday.

"We're ready to go again," he said.

Duane Ferchol, who owns a lawn equipment store in Fargo, said he already has sold 40 snowblowers this winter, surpassing last season's total sales of 32 machines.

Other businesses that sell winter equipment also were enjoying the early snowfall.

"The phone has been ringing nonstop," said Steve Moltzan, a local snowmobile retailer. "It's been a great start of the year."

Source : http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D8TAO8AG0

Bush still wary of Iran...More bad weather...Medical chopper search...

WHITE HOUSE (AP) President Bush says now is not the time to take pressure off Iran. Bush says Tehran is still dangerous despite new intelligence conclusions that it stopped work on a nuclear bomb four years ago. Bush says the report is a warning signal that Iran could regear the program any time.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Parts of the Upper Midwest could get another few inches of snow from the latest storm system to blow in from the Northwest. The system dumped nearly 11 inches of rain on Bremerton, Washington, before moving east. At least four deaths are blamed on the latest storm, which triggered mudslides and flooding.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) The search is continuing in Alaska for a medical helicopter that vanished while carrying a patient and three other people on a flight from Anchorage to the town of Cordova about 150 miles to the east. Bad weather is hampering efforts by the Coast Guard and Air Force to find the chopper.

MIAMI (AP) Three men charged with killing Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor will be staying in jail. The three stood silently during a brief court appearance by videoconference today in Miami as they were denied bail. The three and a 17 year-old being held in juvenile detention are all facing charges including murder.

CHICAGO (AP) - Drew Peterson's attorney is denying reports that the former police officer allegedly used department computers to run unauthorized checks on people his wife knew. Stacey Peterson has been missing since November and authorities say Peterson is a suspect in her disappearance (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Source : http://www.kxmc.com/News/186755.asp

There's Still Time: Winter weather preparation for your home

WEST ROCKPORT (Dec 4): Winter weather preparation

Ice, snow and wind can have devastating consequences on your home. The time to winterize is when the leaves begin to turn and not when the snow begins to fall.

Homeowners should take the following precautions:

Maintain gutters

Remove leaves, acorns, sticks and other debris from gutters so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent "ice damming"–a condition where water is unable to properly drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls. You may also consider installing gutter guards. Available in most hardware and home stores, gutter guards are screens that prevent debris from entering the gutter and direct the flow of water away from the house and into the ground.

Trim trees and remove dead branches

Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break, damaging your home, car or injuring someone walking on your property.

Check insulation

Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. The water re-freezes causing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof, and can contribute to ice damming. Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than the outside air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protect pipes from freezing.

Maintain pipes

Wrap pipes with heating tape and insulate unfinished rooms such as garages that frequently have exposed pipes. Also, check for cracks and leaks. Have minor pipe damage fixed immediately to prevent much costlier repairs in the future.

Keep the house warm

The temperature in your house should be at least 65 degrees. The temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A temperature lower than 65 degrees will not keep the pipes from freezing.

Check heating systems

The proper use and maintenance of furnaces, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves can prevent fire and smoke damage. Have furnaces, boilers and chimneys serviced at least once a year. Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly and consider installing a carbon dioxide detector.

Maintain steps and handrails

Broken stairs and banisters can become lethal when covered with snow and ice. Make repairs now to prevent someone from falling and seriously being injured.

Get to know your plumbing

Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located. If your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance you have to prevent the pipes from bursting.

Hire a licensed contractor

Have a professional survey your home for any structural damage. If damage is discovered, have it repaired immediately so further damage will not occur during the winter. Also, find out about ways to prevent water damage due to snow-related flooding. Plastic coatings for internal basement walls, sump-pumps and other methods can prevent damage to your home and belongings.

Plan for being away

If you are not going to be in your home this winter for an extended period of time, have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting. Also, have someone check on your home on a regular basis. If there is a problem, it can be fixed quickly, thus lessening any damage. Activity at your home will also reduce the likelihood that it will be burglarized.

Standard homeowners policies cover winter-related disasters such as burst pipes, ice dams, wind damage caused by weight of ice or snow.

Damage to homes caused by flooding is usually excluded from most standard homeowner policies. Flood insurance is available from the National Flood Insurance Program:

http://www.fema.gov/nfip/a_facts.htm.

Ask your insurance professional about flood insurance, as well as specific advice about winter-proofing your home.

Source : http://waldo.villagesoup.com/financial/story.cfm?storyID=104735