Plains weather remains deadling for unprepared

The blizzard happened 117 years ago -- before any of us were born -- but the "The Schoolchildren's Blizzard of 1888" is still teaching lessons about the danger of winter's sudden fury.

The awesome storm story has been told and re-told by generations of High Plains residents. And, now, on the anniversary of the Jan. 12, 1888 blizzard, readers nationwide are absorbing the story in a best-selling book by David Laskin.

The Gazette's regional editor, Connie Jo Discoe, has just finished reading the book. "It's a great story which is well-told by the author. The only thing I didn't like was the conclusion, which suggested that this land (outstate Nebraska and South Dakota) is uninhabitable because of the weather."

For those caught by surprise, it still can be, as shown by the deaths of Michael Wamsley and Janelle Hornickel in the Omaha area. But, as we have learned by the recent tragedies in Asia and California, no part of the world is immune from weather's stark, sudden terror.

We can only be as aware and informed as possible about the importance of preparedness. Laskin's book, "The Children's Blizzard," is a valuable reading experience because it reminds us of that fact.

Long Wait for Light Change

Have you ever wondered why it takes so long for the stop light to change from red to green when you are trying to turn on to, or get across, B Street, in McCook? So have we, so we put in a call to Kurt Vosburg, the newly appointed District 7 engineer for the Nebraska Department of Roads.

He tells us that the reason for the delays are magnetic sensors placed under the turning lane pavement during the rebuilding of U.S. Highway 6-34 through McCook. Now, to keep highway traffic flowing at a steady rate, drivers approaching from north-south streets may have to wait up to 65 seconds before the light changes from red to green.

"When you're sitting at a stop light, that can seem like an eternity," Vosburg said. The engineer pointed out that waits can be even longer where B Street intersects with West Fifth Street and Federal Avenue. That's because fire trucks and emergency vehicles have priority, so when there is an emergency, a signal is activated to stop traffic and let the emergency vehicles get through.

So, now we know why the wait at the stop lights is so long. Apparently, it's the price we have to pay for progress ... and the smooth flow of highway traffic through town.