Document text
Rare valley-floor snowpack dwindles State police log 75 accidents in three counties because of weekend storm By JIM DAVIS The snowmen of Medford looked a little sad by Sunday afternoon. A relatively warm, sunny day burned off most of the snow, leaving the city's snowmen with drooping carrots and fallen hats sitting in puddles of muddy grass. It appeared that Medford had recovered from a 24-hour case of the snow. "All the roads have been pretty well cleared up," said Medford police Sgt. Bob Hansen. "The snow's almost all gone. I'm sure the kids are disappointed." A snow storm swept across the Rogue Valley midday Saturday, leaving 2 inches of snow in Medford and about eight inches in higher elevations such as around Prospect. It was the first time in four years that snow had stuck in Medford. The snow caused problems for motorists and police throughout the Rogue Valley. Hansen said his department took about two dozen accident reports on Saturday, but he did not think any were serious. By Sunday, all had returned to normal. Ashland Police Cpl. Kirk Cromwell said some snow still powdered the ground in Ashland on Sunday, but said that police weren't having the problems they did in Saturday's flurry. "It's nothing like yesterday," Cromwell said. "We haven't had any reports like yesterday." The ill effects of weather continued to be a problem for the Oregon State Police on Sunday. OSP troopers closed the Siskiyou Pass of Interstate 5 about 4 p.m. Sunday -- mainly because of cars and trucks sliding off the road. Sexton Pass near Grants Pass was closed on Saturday -- stranding many Ashland football fans who had traveled to Eugene for the state playoffs. The pass opened on Sunday and remained open late Sunday night. In all, OSP took about 75 reports of accidents in Jackson, Josephine and Douglas counties on Saturday and Sunday. OSP dispatchers said none of the accidents were fatal in Jackson County. In one of the accidents, a slow-moving car slid into an OSP patrol cruiser and a pedestrian who was asking the trooper a question about 4:20 p.m. Saturday. No one suffered major injuries in that accident, which was on Interstate 5 near Milepost 49. The snow also caused havoc for Pacific Power crews over the weekend. Outages were reported all over Jackson County. Pacific Power crews worked through Saturday night to keep the power going. Prospect lost electricity early Sunday morning, but had it mostly restored by Sunday night, a Pacific Power spokeswoman said. She also said problems continued through Sunday: "There's still snow and there's still tree branches breaking and knocking down wires and cars running into poles -- those are the two key problems we've had." Roger Gerig of the National Weather Service said that snow levels are expected to drop below Medford tonight. He said there is a chance for showers later tonight -- meaning more snow. But he said the Rogue Valley probably wouldn't see a repeat of Saturday's snow. "It doesn't happen very often," Gerig said. "Medford's the wrong place to go looking for snow." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA