Although Kenny Rogers decided not to gamble on making his way to the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena for his scheduled show Friday, others were left coping with the hand Mother Nature dealt.
The storm that blanketed the Midwest earlier in the week blew into the area overnight Thursday, dumping snow throughout Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.
Local officials worked through the day to help area residents survive the wintery blast.
Jerry Dudley, emergency services director for the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York, which covers Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties, said most of the agency's activities Friday centered around the Interstate 90 corridor, where disaster teams and emergency response workers opened a shelter with Ripley Hose Fire Company for stranded motorists. He said about 12 people were serviced.
Ellicott's Marvin Shellhouse said snow began about 2 a.m. in the town. As of about 2 p.m., he said, it was still coming down with about 6 inches were on the ground so far.
"If you don't have to go out, don't go," he said.
Tim Card, Harmony highway superintendent, said about a foot of snow fell as of about 3 p.m. Friday, with plows out since the snow began about 5 a.m. People out when they do not need to be is what is hindering plowing efforts, however, he said.
"Don't go out unless you have to," he said, adding schools and other activities were closed Friday so people don't have to go out. "People think they need to go shopping," he said, stating instead they are merely getting in the way of plowing efforts.
In Cattaraugus County, residents had mixed reactions to Mother Nature's pounding.
"We're paying for the extra summer we got in November and December," said Salamanca's Tawnee Bocharski.
Randolph bus driver Sheila Dunham called the weather "horrible." She said windshield wipers kept clogging leading to poor visibility.
"Everybody's late," she said.
Others, however, managed to enjoy the winter weather.
"I love it," said Salamanca's Allen Frank, who said he looks forward to this time of year. "You can put another layer on or turn up the heat," he said, adding one can dress for winter. When it's too hot, however, he said, "you're stuck in it."
Little Valley's Dave Davis was looking forward to snowmobiling.
"I like the snow," he said from the shop in which he works. "If had to work outside, it'd be a different story.''
Staying inside was the plan for Olean's Mike Retchless.
"You can stay inside and not do anything - sit by the fireplace," he said about why he likes the snow.
According to Tom Paone, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service at Buffalo, said that although the snow really piled up over the last day or so, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
"We will see the snow taper off Saturday afternoon although there will likely be an accumulation of 4 to 8 inches overnight," Paone said. "Sunday, mixed precipitation is possible and the temperatures will linger in the mid-30s."
He said that Monday was expected to be milder still, with temperatures in the low 40s and no major precipitation, although the end of next week will likely bring snow once more.
"The lake-effect storm bands next week will be more traditional in the sense that there will be scattered bands and they will be weaker that the one we've been experiencing," Paone said.
For a full forecast from the National Weather Service, visit www.wbuf.noaa.gov.
