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| Dreaming of a white Christmas |
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| News | |||
| Written by Aaron Cedeño | |||
| Wednesday, 23 December 2009 09:00 | |||
As Kansans, Louisburg residents are well accustomed to unpredictable weather.  Sunshine and surprisingly mild temperatures are as much a part of Sunflower State winters as blustery winds and sudden snowstorms. Even so, it’s been a while since the Kansas City metro area experienced a truly “white” Christmas. Those with an eye on the weather forecast, however, may have noticed that trend could be on the way out. Beginning on Tuesday night, Kansas City is forecasted to begin receiving steady precipitation — be it rain or snow — through Christmas Day, with temperatures dropping steadily throughout the week. While this may be a nice addition to the holiday aesthetic, it also means that area drivers need to be on top of their game. As a police officer with the Louisburg Police Department for almost eight years, Brent Ball sees problems every winter. Drivers, even those experienced in traversing ice-slicked roads, need that first snowfall under their belts to get back into the routine. “People everywhere are about the same,” he said. “The first snowstorm kind of freaks them out a little bit. After that they remember ‘Oh, yeah, I need to slow down and keep my distance between cars.’ ” On Dec. 8, the area’s first major snowfall caused a handful of accidents near Louisburg — primarily at the juntion of U.S. Highway 69 and Kansas Highway 68. With snow once again in the forecast, and students home from school for winter break, there are a few key tips drivers can use to keep themselves and fellow travelers safe. First of all, Ball said, it is important to keep an eye out for “black ice,” which is a layer of ice on the roads so thin that the asphalt can be seen through it. Common sense is also of the utmost importance; every driver would do well to keep extra distance between his or her car and the one in front of it. In fact, Ball said, practicing defensive driving techniques is probably a good idea in general. He also made note of two local spots that can spell trouble during bad weather: the intersections of Amity Street and Crestview Drive, as well as of Amity and Metcalf Road. “Use that little bit of extra space you’ve got to watch out for the other guy,” he said.
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