How does the long, cold spell affect things in Ada?
Ada Services: frozen water lines and furnace problems have increased about 25 percent compared to normal. People are more prepared this year since last year's cold winter taught people to protect their water lines better with insulation and to run a small stream of water from faucets if frozen pipes may be a problem. More people learned last year to have their furnaces checked before cold weather set this year.
Village of Ada: we've been very lucky, no water line breaks. The snow cover helps with insulation. There have been a few minor issues at the sewer treatment plant. It is too cold to salt roads so they cannot be cleared as well as we want, more sand is being used.
Hays Insurance: no spike in insurance claims, not even burst pipes.
Ferguson Insurance: no more claims than usual due to cold, snow, or winds. Even the recent whiteout did not bring a rash of accident claims. People may have had wipeouts but damage was little or none.
ONU: no class delays past two weeks, snow removal going as planned, no waterline breaks.
Ada Schools: school delays are more numerous due to cold, but busses haven't broken down, no heating problems, just a few minor frozen pipes.
Cole Motors: auto owners have had more issues with drained batteries and tire pressure.
Kline's Auto Repair: drivers are having more problems with batteries, tire pressure, alternators, and heaters.
Reichert's Clothing: people are buying gloves, scarves, earmuffs, boots, thermal underwear.
Community Markets: corporate office does not allow comment to local media.
Dollar General: corporate office does not allow comment to local media.
Overall observation: last winter's harsh weather taught Adaites how to better prepare for this year's cold by planning ahead to protect structures and vehicles.
Cold, more than snow, has been the 2015 nemesis, so insurance agencies have not seen a spike in claims. ONU, AHS, and the Village are all taking the freeze in stride.
Food buying? No comment from those who know locally, but no apparent lines have formed at groceries; that's more common prior to a big show.
Keep on truckin. It's only 27 days til spring.
(Monty Siekerman)
