Drivers on highways and byways around the Trigg County had troubles navigating the roads but few found it as hard as this driver who abandoned their vehicle temporarily.
Downtown Cadiz was a virtual ghost town Thursday and Friday after several inches of snow fell on the area causing many residents to be snowed in and much of western Kentucky to see a white Christmas.
People were stranded for as much as 23 hours on Interstate 24, which was shut down due to the weather and accidents that were caused by the snow. Crews worked tirelessly to keep roadways and areas clear for motorists but by Monday, some roads were still covered in snow and ice.
Police and law enforcement personnel asked motorists who braved the weather Wednesday evening and Thursday morning to relocate to the gymnasium at Trigg County High School as well as churches to ensure their safety.
Matt Oliver, an employee of the Trigg County Fiscal Court and also a worker that helped plow roads and assist stranded motorists was out helping people the entire night Wednesday.
Sheriff Randy Clark was not in the office Monday for comment. City and county offices were closed Monday due to the holiday.
Deputy Dane Hughes was on duty Monday and said that most of the primary roads were cleared but some of the secondary roads were still a little dangerous as he referred to them as "passable." State roads such as KY 272 and KY 164 are still snow or ice covered in some areas.
"It's pretty nasty, almost soupy," he said.
Hughes said the calls the department has received related to the weather has decreased tremendously since Wednesday and Thursday. He said the calls they did receive were diverse in nature as people needed anything from medical assistance to gasoline.
He said the interstate was virtually at a stand still Thursday until road crews were able to clear the road and allow for travelers to pass through.
"By Friday morning," he said, "you were seeing snowmen in the median of Interstate 24."
"It was Christmas 2000 years ago all over again," Hughes said.
Hughes said people were rescued from stranded or stuck vehicles and transported to designated relief shelters that were set up in the count. In addition to the gymnasium, he said people stayed at Blue Springs Baptist Church to wait out the onslaught of snow and ice.
"We had about 150 to 200 people at both locations," he said.
Hughes praised the work of the emergency personnel in the county for their efforts in assisting people who were trapped in vehicles and homes due to the weather.
Head of the Emergency Medical Services in Trigg County Randy Wade could not confirm if there were any deaths related to the weather, however there were injuries suffered from vehicle accidents that occurred due to the snow.
Hughes said emergency rescue crews were outstanding as they brought items like gasoline and other necessities to stranded motorists that were in dire need of assistance and other items for safety.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet issued a release Monday related to the winter weather and the efforts crews are making to make roads as safe as possible.
According to the release, over 42,000 tons of rock salt have been sprayed over the western and central parts of Kentucky that were hit by the record snowfall. It also said that rising temperatures over the beginning of the week should help in their road-cleaning efforts.
"We ask for the public's patience as our employees work to clear our secondary highways still affected by the storm," KYTC Deputy Secretary Dick Murgatroyd said in the release.
Secondary roads and portions of Interstate 24 and both the Western Kentucky and Pennyrile Parkways still remain slick and dangerous, according to the release. As of Monday, one lane of traffic was open on I-24 in Christian County and all lanes of the highway were clear in the Paducah area.
The transportation cabinet also urged that motorists use caution when driving on secondary roads and interstates, as they are still slick and possibly dangerous due to refreezing snow and ice.
