Don't take the highway

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Story Published: Feb 1, 2008 at 8:03 PM PST

Story Updated: Feb 6, 2008 at 1:29 PM PST

By Greg Meyer

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PULLMAN - States of emergency, highways still closed, avalanches.

The relentless winter is leaving residents on the Palouse and elsewhere in the region wondering what's next.

U.S. 195 remained closed most of the day Friday, and for good reason.

"South of Pullman the roadway, in places, has snow drifts above my patrol car," said Washington State Patrol Trooper Mike Murphy, as he manned the roadblock on the south end of Pullman Friday morning. "When going by there's only half a lane, with snow drifts above my patrol car. Heavy winds, whiteout situations in some of the corners. Very treacherous."

Murphy said he has worked on the Palouse for 16 years and that this is one of the worst winters he's seen. And, he said motorists need to pay attention to the signs they see.

"If you see the sign and it says road closed, we mean road closed," said Murphy.

Murphy said, for the most part, travelers are heeding the warnings. And he also said he will be happy to say goodbye to the winter.

When asked if he was looking forward to the spring, his answer was short and to the point.

"Yes, I am," said Murphy, smiling.

Mike Nauman is a plant manager for Busch Distributors. He was trying to get fuel to Whitman County snowplows working out of Colton Friday. He also agreed that this winter is one to remember, or forget.

"It's pretty good," said Nauman. "This is one of the better ones. I haven't seen one for a while like this."

Dan Morris lives in Fernwood, Idaho. He was in LA a couple days ago, soaking up 70 degree warmth. He was trying to get to Lewiston Friday, but ran into the closure on 195.

On the road for almost 40 years, he said this stuff is no big deal. He was asked if he had ever seen a winter like this.

"Oh yeah," said Morris. "This is a typical winter to me."

Big deal or not, the weather has been severe enough for Idaho and Washington's governors to declare states of emergencies for both Whitman and Latah County.

And another storm was expected to hit the region over the weekend.

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