Sub-zero temperatures
By Julie Arbach
McLean County Commissioners braved the elements to get to the Dec. 22 regular meeting, with temperatures hovering near -20 degrees. The extremely light holiday agenda found few people willing to venture out for a meeting. McLean County Highway Superintendent Ron Wagner reported Shawn Thorson was hired to fill the vacant position in Garrison, due to the retirement of Gary Mikkelson. Mikkelson was unable to be at the meeting to receive a plaque and gift in appreciation for his 18 years of service to the county. Mikkelson was on the plow doing snow removal duty. Crews have also been busy with snow removal of county roads. Wagner said the places where they have received nearly 20 inches are getting piled pretty high and plows were out yesterday. More snow is predicted again this week, so there appears to be no relief in sight. A lot of the ditches are filled with snow, leaving few places for it to go other than drifting on roadways when winds are 20 mph. According to Wagner there is quite a bit more snow when you get five to 10 miles north of Turtle Lake and west of Garrison about 10 miles.
