Winter storm smacks Ark City

Thousands without power; SA offers shelter

Thousands of Arkansas City area residents were without power this morning as snow and sleet continued to fall. The storm knocked out power to about 2,600 customers, a city official said.

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Westar Energy crews had asked crews from other areas to help restore power here, said City Manager Steve Archer.

Archer said a count was being taken of people who called the Police Department at 441-4444 seeking shelter, and a shelter would be opened up.

The Salvation Army late this morning was offering a place for people to stay warm in a back room of its store at 318 N. Summit St. Videos were being shown and food was being offered, a woman at the SA said.

Bob Frazee, emergency management coordinator for the city, said the snow was to end by late this afternoon or early this evening, according to a National Weather Service forecast. Tonight’s forecast: Cold, low of 21 degrees. Sunday: Sunny, high of 40.

Frazee also said that as many as 3,500 customers were without power last night, meaning around 900 have since had power restored.


Additional Cancellations:

SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE SOCCER CLINIC SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT, BOTH SESSIONS, HAS BEEN CANCELED. MULTICULTURAL DAY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 28, HAS BEEN CANCELED. COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL MASTER CLASS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 28, HAS BEEN CANCELED.