Winter 2020
We sometimes say that we hope winter will be shorter or milder. I agree that too much snow and ice can cause problems, but think how boring it would be if the temperature and weather were the same all the time. Pretty soon, we would be wishing for either a hot summer day or a cold winter day. That variety is certainly present in Missouri, sometimes all in the same day!
As I write this, we have already had our first snowfall in Glasgow. There will certainly be more to come. Winter travel can be a treat especially for those who enjoy skiing and other winter sports. With the restrictions still in place from COVID, we may rely even more on our computers for travel experience.
If you are going to be on the actual highways this winter, it is prudent to check for closed highways and road conditions. MODOT provides this as a public service at MODOT.org/winter-road-conditions. This site even includes photos of some of the roads and tips for winter driving, including how to safely share the road with a MODOT snowplow. There is also a link that allows you to report road conditions.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac (OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/old-farmers-almanac-winter-2020-mo) predicts a really cold and snowy winter for Missouri. This site also shares photos of Missouri’s previous winters and snowy highways. Make sure that the house is warm and you have a sweater handy before checking out this site.
Twelve unforgettable places in Missouri that everyone must visit are listed at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/places-to-visit-this-winter-mo. The site contains a warning that, because of the COVID, users should verify before IRL travel. Of course, this is always a good thing to do. The site lists resorts with skiing, ice skating and eagle watching. Forest Park and other St. Louis locations, including the St. Louis Zoo, are featured. The zoo is famous for many things including the Sunday afternoon penguin parade. Yes, they turn the penguins out to walk the pedestrian walkways. The site also lists curling in Kansas City and open air ice skating in Columbia.
Cold weather brings harsh challenges for families that have trouble paying their utility bills. With some folks out of work because of COVID, this may be even more pressing this cold winter. If you know someone in this situation, please help them to take advantage of a Federal assistance program. This informational page comes from a St. Louis TV station: KMOV.com/news/federal-program-helps-missouri-residents-keep-utilities-on-as-winter-months-approach/article_0e3921c2-18f7-11eb-9330-5b19e debe3d5.html. To qualify, applicants must be a Missouri resident, a U.S. citizen, live in the household and be responsible for paying the utility bill, and have $3,000 or less in bank accounts, investments or retirement accounts. This is a long URL and it is not the kind of page I usually include in this column, but this information may save a child’s life during the coming winter. Share it with someone in need.
Stay safe and warm this winter. Everyone has their favorite season. I will admit that winter is not mine, but there is still much to do and to enjoy in any season in Missouri.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.
As I write this, we have already had our first snowfall in Glasgow. There will certainly be more to come. Winter travel can be a treat especially for those who enjoy skiing and other winter sports. With the restrictions still in place from COVID, we may rely even more on our computers for travel experience.
If you are going to be on the actual highways this winter, it is prudent to check for closed highways and road conditions. MODOT provides this as a public service at MODOT.org/winter-road-conditions. This site even includes photos of some of the roads and tips for winter driving, including how to safely share the road with a MODOT snowplow. There is also a link that allows you to report road conditions.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac (OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/old-farmers-almanac-winter-2020-mo) predicts a really cold and snowy winter for Missouri. This site also shares photos of Missouri’s previous winters and snowy highways. Make sure that the house is warm and you have a sweater handy before checking out this site.
Twelve unforgettable places in Missouri that everyone must visit are listed at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/places-to-visit-this-winter-mo. The site contains a warning that, because of the COVID, users should verify before IRL travel. Of course, this is always a good thing to do. The site lists resorts with skiing, ice skating and eagle watching. Forest Park and other St. Louis locations, including the St. Louis Zoo, are featured. The zoo is famous for many things including the Sunday afternoon penguin parade. Yes, they turn the penguins out to walk the pedestrian walkways. The site also lists curling in Kansas City and open air ice skating in Columbia.
Cold weather brings harsh challenges for families that have trouble paying their utility bills. With some folks out of work because of COVID, this may be even more pressing this cold winter. If you know someone in this situation, please help them to take advantage of a Federal assistance program. This informational page comes from a St. Louis TV station: KMOV.com/news/federal-program-helps-missouri-residents-keep-utilities-on-as-winter-months-approach/article_0e3921c2-18f7-11eb-9330-5b19e debe3d5.html. To qualify, applicants must be a Missouri resident, a U.S. citizen, live in the household and be responsible for paying the utility bill, and have $3,000 or less in bank accounts, investments or retirement accounts. This is a long URL and it is not the kind of page I usually include in this column, but this information may save a child’s life during the coming winter. Share it with someone in need.
Stay safe and warm this winter. Everyone has their favorite season. I will admit that winter is not mine, but there is still much to do and to enjoy in any season in Missouri.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.