Tammy Curtis, Managing Editor

With over a week to plan for the impending Winter Storm that brought Old Man Winter to the area last Thursday, road departments in cities and the Arkansas Department of Transportation wasted no time in their preparations. 

City, state and county road departments began prepping roads with solution and salt ahead of the storm as early as Tuesday. 

While between 6-10 inches of snow was recorded in Sharp and Fulton Counties from Thursday night to Friday, most city and state roads and main traffic county roads were cleared by Friday afternoon or evening into Saturday. 

 Some of the less traveled county roads left residents home to eat chili and drink hot cocoa for the weekend. 

Saturday temperatures rose into the 40s, but by nightfall, they had again dipped below freezing, refreezing melted areas and creating a black ice hazard. Most made the best of the day and the official Snow Day 1 of 2025 on Jan. 10 sent children and adults with an inner child out to play in the snow. 

The abundance of snow created perfect conditions for the construction of snowmen, snow women and igloos across the region. Nearly 480 shared their fun photos with the SRC, and the snowman-building skills of residents were over the top. One family even opted to bring the beach to their yard by coloring and sculpting the white stuff into an ocean scene, complete with coral and sea life. 

The coming together of residents of communities in both Highland at the AL Hutson Center and Salem at the First Baptist Church and other locations was a testament to the inner child of many. Squeals and laughs were prevalent, despite the frigid temperatures, as adults and children tried their skills at sledding, snowboarding, snow tubing, kayak sledding, and many other creative forms of snow fun. These included mini swimming pool sleds, couches, hoods, lawn mower engine covers, and about anything in between that doubled as a way down a hill or around a field in the name of fun. 

Sharp County Road Superintendent Todd Price said the county began pre-treating all the hills and intersections on blacktop and chip sealed roads with rock salt. On Friday morning, the road department began blading the chip- sealed and primary roads as the snow fell, attempting to keep it off the roads. Price said by  Friday night, they were all passable. 

On Monday,  the department started on the heaviest traveled gravel roads. He said the Sharp County end of Peace Valley road was one worst in the county with the heaviest snowfall accumulations. 

Fulton County Judge Kenneth Crow said his department worked Friday until 6 p.m. and Saturday clearing roads  By Monday, these Fulton County roads were graded. Paved roads:

Wirth, Union, Sturkie, Frenchtown, Elizabeth, Heart, Boggy Landing, Byron, Pickren Hall, Young, Fairview, North Fairview (North of Mammoth Spring) and Boy Scout Road. 

Secondary roads cleared included: Flora Cemetery Road, Cripple Creek Road, Fieldview Way, Hickory Street, Copperhead Road, Timber Crest Road, Cedar Park Road,Beagle Alley Road, Corral Road, Fawnwood Road, Countryside Road, Dogwood Road, Woodstock Circle, Center Point Loop, Ruth Road, Oakdale Road, Pine Ridge Road, Small portions of Kerley Point CV and Little Woods, Half of Asher Road, 

Redbud Road, Republican Road, North Camp Creek Road, half of Walking Stick Road, Coyote Road, Cornertown Road, Sunrise Road,  Old Ridge Road, Bay Creek Road, Kirby Road, Barkwood Road, Amber Wood Road, Woodlark Road, Hill String Road, Long Run Road, Bowhill Terrace, Fox Field Road, Cedarvalley Road, Moonlight Road, Fieldcreek Road, Fieldcreek Cemetery, Union Hill Road, Started on Britton Hill Road,Gibson Hill Road, Dovefield Road, Possum Trot Road, Wood Hollow Road, Saddle Club Road, Yankton Road, Greystone Road, Onaga Road, 

Half of Cross Creek Road, Half of Autumn Wood Road, Old Peace Valley Road, Lime Kiln Road, South Camp Creek Road,

Cricket Pass Road, Ridge Road, Forrest Hill Road, Sycamore Creek Circle, Quail Creek Road, Fryatt Cemetery Road, Old Welcome Hill Road, Half of Pleasant Valley Road, North half of Myatt Creek Road,Fairview Road, Whippoorwill Road, Magnolia Road Sycamore Road, Holly Road, Brookfield Road, Young Road,

Countryview Road, Dearborn, Morristown Road, Pickren Hall Road, Mt. Calm Road,Jaycee Hollow Trail, Larkwood Lane, Enterprise Road, Wren Road, Roadrunner Road, Woodside Road, Owl Road, Dove Road, Buck Road,  Stateline Road, Briarwood Road, Blue Jay Trail, Glade rock Ridge, Hens Nest Lane, Ott Road, Vidette Road, Hawk Ridge Road, Rockwood Road, Flint springs Road, Shady Grove Road, Havenwood Road, 

Wood Valley Road, Round Tree Road, Harmony Hill Road, Unicorn Road, Wheeling Road,  Rosebranch Road, Emiline Road, 

Bexar Road and Half of Greasy Creek Road,

By Monday, the county roads were still mostly covered and packed, providing a second snow day for many area children. 

The forecast is again predicting Old Man Winter to make a second appearance to Spring River Country by the weekend.

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