The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 44

ILLINOIS EDITION the pantagraph, Wednesday, dec. 23, i8i A3. 0DOW eoo Arid you think it's bad here Two to 3 inches of snow fell Tuesday in a diagonal band across Kansas from southwest to northeast, accompanied by north winds of 15 to 25 mph. In Utah, 4 to 6 inches of snow coated Salt Lake City, and a heavy storm warning was issued with predictions of more snow Wednesday. "The roads are really said Marge Anderson, senior dispatcher for the Salt Lake County sheriff's office.

"We're getting calls for accidents all over the county." Roads were slick and snow-packed throughout the state, and even the Heavy snow socked the Rockies, bringing a blizzard to western Kansas and dumping nearly 5 feet of snow Tuesday in some parts of Utah. A chilling mixture of rain and snow slicked roads and delayed school from the lower Great Lakes to mid-Atlantic coast. Alta Ski Resort in the mountains southeast of Salt Lake City reported 116 inches snow depth Tuesday, with 56 inches of new snow in 24 hours. At Snowbird, just down the road, snow depth was 100 inches with 39 inches of new snow. "There's lots of powder and it's still snowing," said Barbara Altum, an Alta employee.

Freezing rain in southern Illinois was blamed for the death of a man whose car went out of control on an icy bridge Tuesday and skidded into a tree in Beckemeyer. Near rural Harwood, a bus carrying a group of handicapped children slid off a slick road early Tuesday, but no one was injured. "The road is solid ice down there," Anne Arundel County Police Officer Richard Molloy said. More than a foot of snow fell in the Colorado mountains, with 7 to 11 inches in Denver, 7 inches in Colorado Springs and 5 in Fort Collins and Grand Junction. Even the southeastern plains were socked with up to 3 inches.

Forecaster Gary Frandson of the National Weather Service described it as "the first real storm of the year" for the plains of Colorado and neighboring Kansas. Gusty wind and heavy snow belted Greensburg, about 40 miles southeast of Dodge City, and the weather service called it a blizzard. The sheriff's office said several minor traffic accidents had been re Pantagraph photosBRAD CLIFT Paul Jarvis, 15 White Place, Bloomington, found a way to beat the Twin Cities' snow-packed streets Tuesday while escorting daughters Julia, on the sled, and Sarah to the grocery store. Police snowed under by motorists' calls skiers were warned to beware of avalanches. "It's snowing too hard for the avalance conditions to stay stable," John Stratton, a snow-safety expert at Snowbird resort, said.

High winds whipped the snow as it fell Tuesday, and temperatures were expected to dip into the 20s Wednesday. Snow, sleet and thunderstorms extended into Missouri, where forecasters predicted it would continue late Tuesday and travelers advisories were posted. Highways in Indiana were slick or slushy Tuesday morning, and so was a runway at Indianapolis International Airport, where a taxiing jet slipped off and got stuck in the snow and ice Monday afternoon. Passengers on the American Airlines Boeing 727, which had landed safely from Dallas, were bused to the terminal while workers freed the jet. Three Fort Wayne, residents died in a crash Monday when one car slid on ice across the road's center line and hit another car.

The dead were identified as Norma J. Falk, 55; her husband, Paul, 61, and Katherine Young, 78. AijooatKl Press as long as they're open." Those people make snow extremely frustrating for policemen. Sgt. Charles Peck- a state policeman at Pontiac, summed up his feelings in the middle of a long, hard day during a season's first major snow.

"Do you remember the white stuff that fell last year?" "Yeah." "Slick, wasn't it?" "Uh-huh." "Then why do they think it isn't slick this year?" who climbed a pole and tapped into the line to call police. Eventually, with assistance from an operator, the call was traced and the mishap located. But for some calls, operators are no help. "We were buried in calls," a state policeman at Pontiac said, "and a woman called and asked how the roads were to Peoria. I told her they were closed.

She said, 'Oh. How are they coming Some callers ask police to be psychic. They want to know how the roads will be two or. three days later or how they are in Nevada or Indi ana. Another state policeman said a man called to ask why snow removal crews weren't out plowing.

The policeman explained that it was snowing too heavily for the plows to do any good and that when the wind stopped blowing the crews would go back out. "Well, when will the wind quit blowing?" the caller asked, A DeWitt County dispatcher said many people don't let road conditions interfere with their plans. "I know good and well they go ahead and go. It doesn't matter what shape they're (the roads) in. ported.

By MARTHA SULLIVAN Pantagraph staff Central Illinois winters plague Central Illinois drivers and Central Illinois drivers plague Central Illinois police. A woman called police to ask about road conditions. When she was told it was snowing heavily and all roads were snow-packed, she said, "Oh, they're all right then." "What could I possibly say to make her think there's a problem out there?" the policeman wondered. Every year, during storms that make travel hazardous, police are flooded with telephone calls. Most are legitimate inquiries or pleas for help, and police are courteous, realizing that people who aren't on the roads aren't making their jobs harder.

But even legitimate calls sometimes are difficult to handle. A state policeman at Pontiac remembered a call from a man who said he had been involved in an accident and his son appeared to be badly hurt. "OK, I'll get a car and an ambulance right out." the sergeant responded. "Where are you?" "I don't know." came the answer. A pause, then the sergeant said.

"Well, look around and tell me what you see. Are you at a gas station, or what?" The man said "no," he was out in the country, miles from anything. He was a telephone repairman Employees at Central Illinois motels said many people who had planned to leave the area last night decided to stay because of road conditions and that many travelers stopped short of their destinations for the same reason. McLean County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency four-wheel drive vehicles and snowmobiles were ready to pick up stranded motorists. However, the only people in need of the service last night were two people whose car was stranded in a ditch at Illinois 9 and the LeRoy blacktop.

The National Weather Service declared a winter storm warning for Central Illinois Tuesday afternoon and early evening. Temperatures Tuesday night were steady or slowly falling. Tuesday night was windy and colder with blowing and drifting snow. Wednesday was expected to be cloudy, windy and colder with highs in the upper 20s and a chance of snow flurries. WEATHER From Al the same by sheriff's police throughout Central Illinois.

"We haven't had any fires, nobody died and no dogs are loose," said a Logan County officer. "Other than the weather-related traffic problems, everything is quiet." Hut what was a nightmare for motorists was a dream come true for people who make a living towing cars. "We're towing as many as we can," said Jock Cameron, an employee of Ron's Standard. 601 E. Locust Bloomington.

"Every two seconds somebody is calling us. I wish we had another truck." Randy Courtney, an employee of Phil Jordan Wrecker Service, 1200 S. Main Normal, said things were busy there, too. "We've got a list of people to tow up to tomorrow afternoon They are getting stuck in pui king lots, ditches and intersections all over the place." Driving on slick roads, it is sometimes easy fo forget snow can provide interesting natural scenes, such as this one in trees along Normal's College Avenue Tuesday. Grand Hotel license gains panel backing Elegance of the Past at a Price to Match! Policeman's death probed in Sparta SPARTA (AIM Southern Illinois law enforcement authorities are continuing their investigation today of the fatal shooting of a Sparta policeman The body of Robert Crow.

34. a four year veteran of the force in this Randolph County community, was found in a bedroom of his home Monday afternoon Coroner Gary McClure said. "It Is definitely not a suicide. It is a homicide McClure said a family member found the body. Crow had worked the midnight shift and was off duty al the time He said a raliber revolver with one spent shell was found near the body, but declined to say whether the gun was murder weapon.

Authentic Reproductions of Antique TIFFANYS Lamps made ol imported Cathedral glass and virgin lead. traveling circus performers The Flying Wards sold the restaurant to Owen and Helen Benton in 1937. Stambach bought the business from the estate of Mrs. lien ton in November 1980. "John" Schneider, attorney for the Fishers, told the commission that the restaurant, which specializes in steak and chicken, would continue to operate "so you wouldn't even know there was a new owner Mrs.

Fisher said she planned to change "not a thing The building's purchase price has not been revealed. When Stambach bought the restaurant 13 months ago. that price was $105,000 70 percent o( the restaurant's appraised value. The Bloomington Liquor Control Commission Tuesday recommended a license that would allow the Grand Hotel to continue operating "much as it has for more than 40 years The liquor license for the restaurant at 1201 E. Emerson Bloomington, is needed because the business is to be sold for the second time in a little more than a year.

Patricia Fisher, 3022 K. Oakland Bloomington, who has worked at the restaurant for 21 years, and her husband. Ken. will lake ownership from Francis Slambach Jan. 18 if the City Council approves the license Jan 11.

The Grand Hotel has not changed the name It was given when a trapeze act known as the Flying Wards lived there and housed fellow 17" Dia. 150 Watts 5 Color Combinations $dQ95 Reg. 94.50 7 While They Last 17" Die. 150 Watts 3 Color Combinations $64.95 Reg. 111.75 WiT While They Last Twin City holiday closings slated A bright new gift idea for all you Santas LOOK FOR TIIOM f.V LIGHTING AT mat Public Transit System will operate regular schedules on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Bloomington and Normal public libraries will be open both Thursdays, but will close early and remain closed over the holidays The Bloomington library will close at 1 m. on Christmas and New Year's eves, and the Normal library will close at noon Christmas Eve and at m. New Year's Eve. Christmas and New Year's dayi will be holiday! for most people, and some area government and business employees will celebrate a little early. McLean County offices and Nor-mat City Hall will be closed on both holidays, and Bloomington City Hall will close both Thursday and Friday the next two weeks.

Buses will not run on the two holidays, but the Bloomington-Nor- Public school students will be off until the beginning of the year. Dates that students return to school vary among districts. State and federal offices, and most financial Institutions, will close both holidays. College Hills Mall and Eastland Shopping Center will close at 3 m. on both Thursdays, and remain closed Christmas and New Year's days.

win cioia Nn. 0i. IS mn4 D. 3 wTho Center 902 Four Seasons Bloomington Phone 663 5311.