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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Top Galleries: February 22, 2007 Fallen trees cause power outages By Alan Panebaker Ashland Daily Tidings and Robert Plain Six inches wet snow dropped heavily on trees in the city overnight, felling them on cars, powerlines and local streets. Six inches of wet snow dropped heavily on trees in the city, causing them to fall on cars, powerlines and local streets. More scenes in the Tidings PHOTO GALLERY . Alan Panebaker | Daily Tidings A transmission problem from Pacific Power left two thirds of the city without power for hours Wednesday night, and City of Ashland Electric Utilities employees hurried throughout the city this morning to get customers back on line. City of Ashland Director of Electric Utilities Dick Wanderscheid said electric workers were in at 4:30 a.m. chasing down problems. He said many of the calls the department received were scattered throughout town and due mainly to fallen trees. "There are (fallen trees) all over the place," Wanderscheid said. Early this morning, he said the entire city lost power for about three minutes. Wanderscheid said about 400 to 500 people were left without power still this morning. At Evo's Java House on East Main Street, a Siberian Elm tree fell in the parking lot creating a sight for passersby. The coffee house had no power early this morning but was back online by 6 a.m. Debbie Lorray, owner of Evo's, said the tree fell before she and barista Risa Roberts made it to work this morning. Lorray and Roberts both walked to work this morning, but an employee on the other side of town got snowed in. The two poured hot cups of coffee for residents and watched more snow fall outside. Lorray said she like the feeling and awe that severe weather brings. "It's just that feeling of being affected by life in a major way in your environment," she said. Lorray said it was also great to see people coming together and asking each other if they're OK and how the storm has affected them. While the baristas made it to work this morning, other residents, like Shady Challman, braved the storm. Challman, 59, went running in town at about 5:45 a.m. He said he ran on the median in Siskiyou Boulevard to avoid falling tree limbs over the side walks. Challman said he only encountered a few cars and one cyclist on the street, and a few loud cracks echoed through the air as tree limbs gave way to the weight of the snow. In 36 years living in Ashland, this was the most snow Challman said he had seen fall and stick on the valley floor. It usually melts by mid-morning, he said. While some people might find it odd to go running in the snow at 6 a.m., Challman said it's fun. He hopes to utilize the snow tomorrow on his day off. "I'm a skier, so on Friday I'll definitely be up on the mountain," he said. Cynthia Zavatski, 72, walked downtown to see the beauty of the new fallen snow, she said. "I'm going to Starbucks because my house is cold," she added. A New Hampshire native, Zavatski said she liked to see the snow. For local school students, the snow meant no school. Ashland Schools Superintendent Juli Di Chiro said snow, lack of electricity and falling tree limbs prompted the schools closing. At 5 a.m., most school district buildings had no electricity. At 3:30 a.m. when power went out in much of the city, one Ashland Police Officer saw the lights go out. Ashland Police Department Deputy Chief Rich Walsh said Officer Art LeCours was patrolling Siskiyou Boulevard early this morning when "everything went black." Staff writer Alan Panebaker can be reached at 482-3456 x 227 or [email protected] . Current Comments: I'm not sure where Shady was in the winter of 1982-83, but he apparently wasn't in Ashland paying attention to the snowfall. Six inches is not much compared to what we had that year, and in other years since then. Martha - Port Orchard, WA - February 22nd, 6:44 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us