The Catoosa Tornado and a classmate's connection

I went to school with the classmate in question from this Tulsa World piece. My 7th grade teacher at the time Mr. Albrecht was dressed up more than usual one morning to tell us the bad news. A classmate Erinn Haynes was in Oklahoma and her family was caught up in a tornado. Erinn survived, however, her parents and younger sister perished in the Catoosa Tornado.

Erinn didn't return to school for the rest of that year although she did return to graduate from the 8th grade. She did come back to see everybody before the end of that year, and she was at that time a long way from recovery.

The article published in 2018 showed that she's still suffering some effects mentally and physically. She survived and I know that she has a strong faith that helped her survive this. Having read this article I have a better idea of what happened with her on that fateful day 28 years ago as of April 22nd.

I'm tempted to ask about a tree that was planted for her late sister Paige. Shedd School has been closed since 2013 and have little clue about the fate of that tree that was planted in her honor or even the location of it. I might have a funeral program in my possession and I was not in attendance for that funeral. The program was probably copied and handed to us - her classmates - at that time.

I can't say I really understood the gravity of Erinn's situation at the time, however, what wasn't lost upon me was this was a very sad thing to find out about a classmate. When we found out it was just after spring break at the time.

I hope you read some of Erinn's story and the memories of others who lived through that storm on that day at Tulsa World.

Winter isn't done with Chicago yet...

 Well the city and the area has been taking a beating by winter weather so far. We got hit by heavy snow on President's Day as you see in the Tribune. Winter was mostly mild and then January become February and not only heavy snow we got very cold temps also.

I also have to add this Sun-Times article that illustrates other weather related records so far. As of Monday we've had 16 straight days with snow cover of more than 10 inches.

Another thing to add, while CPS negotiated with the teachers to reopen classrooms the weather helps to keep our young people on continued remote learning. Grab and go meal distribution will continue however. [VIDEO]

A reminder, we're almost there. Next month is March which means spring will be here before we know it!

Weather forecasters: Snowstorm in Chicago will be followed by ‘coldest temps of the season’

Thankfully for most of the winter we largely escaped heavy snow and very cold temps. And then I see this in the news:

There’s a “high chance” of 3 inches of snow by Thursday morning, followed by plummeting temperatures throughout the day that could reach below zero by nighttime, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jake Petr.

“We’re forecasting the coldest temperatures of the season,” he said.

Thursday morning, temperatures will be in the 20s, dropping to the teens by 3 p.m. and falling into the single digits by 7 or 8 p.m., he said.

Chicago could have a windchill of 10 degrees below zero at its coldest, Petr said. Areas west of the metro area could see windchills as low as negative 20 degrees.

The Chicago area hasn’t seen temperatures so low in nearly a year, Petr said. The last time Chicago recorded a below zero temperature was March 4, 2019, he said.

But the “quick shot of cold air” won’t last long, Petr said.

“Temperatures will rebound quickly by Saturday, when we’ll be in the 30s,” he said. The high for Sunday is forecast for 39 degrees.

Probably time to share info on warming centers for those of you who know someone that could use this information. 

Updates

To continue writing this blog my goal is to hopefully inform or entertain you all. It's probably why I do share some things that I hope you all would be entertained by. Also to share things that hopefully inform you of the issues of the day. Some of you may be parents and my goal is to keep that in mind.

With this said my former elementary school principal dropped by a few months and I had considered this encouragement to keep this blog going. It's become important for me to find ways to draw people to this blog and if you want a blog to grow that will always become a difficult task.

Over the years as something of a public service I used to have an EveryBlock widget on this blog to share any crime reports or any media reports for your convenience. Usually this is for the general area around both Bennett & Shedd schools. Of course EveryBlock no longer exists and thus no widget of benefit to anyone.

I used to have a weather widget from Accuweather (although there is still one at the top of the blog that only shows current conditions). One widget that Accuweather once provided was not only current conditions, a forecast and a radar as well. I'm working on finding a weather widget to attach to this blog to help inform you of the local weather here in Chicago.

Also it's probably time to revamp the about page. Not entirely sure what to put on there, although what you see in this blog could serve as a basis. Also bear in mind I'm looking into creating a domain for this space in the near future which is in keeping of this blog's identity.

Also I'm working on a fb page that hopefully will allow anyone who follows this blog to keep track of updates. That continues to be a work in progress.

I'm planning to make some changes here, hopefully good changes...

Also feel free to let me know what you'd like to see on here as far as posts or even just everyday things that you think would be of great value if you do check this blog. The comments here are always open. 🙆

Experiment #PolarVortex

I saw a few people perform this experiment during our recent cold snap. Boil some water and throw it up into the air once the temps fall to a certain level. See what happens in this ig video from Whitney Young High School.

View this post on Instagram

Ever wonder what principal Dr. Kenner does during a snow day? #SnowDay #chiberia #staywarm

A post shared by Whitney M. Young Magnet HS (@whitneymyounghs) on Jan 31, 2019 at 10:12am PST

It's cold out there!!!

The Chicago Police put this information out on twitter this past Saturday with regards to finding a warming center during this wave of frigid temps. As always call 311 to find a warming center near you or for a well-being check. And also noted in the tweet, police stations are warming stations as well.

Also, don’t forget that ALL @Chicago_Police Stations are warming centers, open to anyone in need of a warm place to get out from the cold. Contact 311 for assistance finding a warming center or to arrange a well being check. Dial 911 for emergencies.

📸: Officer Andre Van Vegten pic.twitter.com/kMrKmBnL2Q

— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) January 26, 2019

CPS schools are closed on Wednesday #Chiberia

Many were concerned, especially on social media and with temps going to very chilly lows CPS is cancelling classes on Wednesday.

BREAKING: Chicago Public Schools has announced that schools will be closed Wednesday due to sub-zero temperatures and potentially record-setting windchill values. https://t.co/IstgmNO2yh

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) January 29, 2019

And here's the official word by the CPS' CEO

The safety of our students is the district’s highest priority. All afterschool activities will be canceled tomorrow, January 29th. All CPS schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 30th.

— Janice Jackson, EdD (@janicejackson) January 29, 2019

If you're looking for a warming center here's some information posted at The Sixth Ward. Feel free to call 311 to find one near you.

It's going to be hot out there this weekend...

Information provided by the office of 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer. Information you need to know on beating this heat. Also a listing of city cooling centers if it gets too hot for you at home and outside. Call 311 for the cooling center closest to you and of course if you're concerned about anyone during this heat request a well-being check for them.

It’s going to be VERY hot this 4th of July weekend. Please note the following cooling centers! For all emergencies be sure to call 911. For more info visit: https://t.co/ye5sGCZ8So #coolingcenters #6wardchicago #rodericktsawyer pic.twitter.com/zwnUfnpwQD

— 6th Ward Chicago (@6thWardChicago) June 29, 2018

Artistmac on the politics of snow

[VIDEO] While I didn't want to post another artistmac video so soon after I already posted one on Monday, however, with the snow coming down at this moment this is appropriate. Not a blizzard at least, but this is heavy snow regardless.

Meanwhile, the last video by artistmac was really about complaining about a ridge or snow in his backyard. The video above tells us about the politics of snow about dibs, also the city shouldn't plow alleys or private property, and of course private property owners especially businesses should shovel the snow on their sidewalks.

Also artistmac is pretty saavy. Let's say you see a city plow for example plowing an alley if you have your fancy iPhone or android device or a Blackberry snap a photo or record video. You can send this to your alderman's office you can also send it to the local TV news stations. He does state we are in sweeps period.

For your weather needs check the WGN Weather page. And be careful when shoveling your snow!

BTW, just remember that we're almost a month away from spring. We're almost at the point where the cold weather and the snow becomes rain storms and warmer weather.

Standing water at Abbott Park

After Thursday's heavy rain this is how Abbott Park at 95th & Michigan had fared earlier this afternoon. After the heavy snow melts and with heavy precipitation it seems prone to standing water in the grassy areas of the park. And standing water on the sidewalks surrounding the park.

Abbott Park flooded #weather #rain #chicagogram #chicagoparks

A post shared by The Sixth Ward (@thesixthward) on Mar 30, 2017 at 12:20pm PDT

If you have any weather related pics send them to us or tag us on Instagram.

Crossposted from sixthward.us

#chiberia: CPS classes are cancelled due to the snow...

You may have seen this announcement if you follow CPS' FB and Twitter profiles. This is important news so sorry if this is breaking into your enjoyment of tonight's Super Bowl between the Patriots and Seahawks.

Also I wanted to share with you the city plow tracker to see if the city is coming down your street to clear it.

If you want to see a radar picture here's WGN's Chicago Weather Center radar.

DNA Info: CPS Schedules Makeup Days for January Cancellations

Those two days earlier this month where CPS students had no class because of the cold weather well they have to make up those days somehow:

On Jan. 6 and Jan. 7, snow and frigid temperatures forced CPS to cancel classes. "To ensure students receive the valuable instructional time that was intended" for those days, CPS has scheduled the two makeup days, including one that will delay summer break for a day.

Jan. 30, which was scheduled to be a School Improvement Day without classes, will now be a regular attendance day for all CPS students, officials said.

June 17, which was supposed to be the first day of summer break, will also be a regular attendance day. Summer break will begin June 18 instead.

CPS schools are also closed Thur. January 8, 2015

In addition to the info above you may also find this information embedded below via CPS' twitter page. Feel free to retweet if you have a twitter account. The information is primarily regarding city warming centers during the current cold snap. Of course as always there's 311 for any info. on city warming centers.

All six @ChiFamSupport Community Service Centers are serving as Warming Centers from 9a-8p. pic.twitter.com/GvR1CYJ5RH
— ChicagoPublicSchools (@ChiPubSchools) January 8, 2015

CPS schools closed due to weather and other information

Graphic above is shared via CPS' FB page.

Also in light of the recent cold snap we're experiencing right now 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale also sent this information to his constituents today. Ald. Beale's information informs us of a wind chill warning and also city services or warming centers for those city residents who are seeking warm shelter during this winter weather.

Of course you can also call 311 for the location of any city warming center.

Tribune: End of winter? We have records to break, more snow to shovel

Here's some info posted last month on resources during this latest cold snap! It seems this winter weather isn't going away anytime soon although thankfully the worst was over last month. This winter seemed to have broken some records. From the Tribune:

The worst of winter should be over by the end of February. That would be Friday, when it will still be miserably cold. Then we'll get more snow, maybe a lot of it.

Temperatures are expected to drop below zero overnight Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night as we again get hit with cold air "in abundance," in the words of WGN-TV meteorologist Tom Skilling.

That's in keeping with a winter that has already delivered 22 days of lows below zero, Skilling noted. The 129-year-old record is 25 days below zero, a record that's clearly in danger.

Skilling says temperatures will average about 22 degrees below normal for the next five days, 20 degrees below normal for the five days after that, and 13 degrees below normal for the five days after that – which gets us into the middle of March.

This has been the third coldest winter in 143 years of recorded Chicago weather history, Skilling said, with about 7 days in 10 since November producing below-normal temperatures. Meteorological winter ends with February, marking the close of what is usually the coldest three months.

AND....we can expect more snow to come this way by the weekend. Although hopefully not the amount of snow we had through the month of January and February.

ALSO, for a brief time I took the weather widget down and now it's back up top in the sidebar. When I checked before writing this post it registered at only 8 degrees that's at about 12 PM on Wednesday.

School is back in session on Wednesday and weather updates

This is starting to feel like a ritual. We just did that the first full-week in January and just like at that time classes resume on Wednesday. The extended forecast still has cold temps through rest of the week but only in the teens and unfortunately more snow is expected.

Remember spring is just around the corner!

CPS schools will remain closed on Tuesday

Schools remain closed on Tuesday. You can recieve further updates via either CPS' FB page or CPS' Twitter account. In addition, you can call the 773.553.1000 for any further updates from CPS via recorded message.

As always there is an Accuweather widget at the top of the sidebar for your convenience. Feel free to use it to check out current conditions or visit the Accuweather website for weather forecasts.

Now just for the sake of talking some CPS closures news, I would like to share this Sun-Times article which discusses not only city Alderman who are unhappy with CPS plans to close schools in light of the weather emergency. They also discuss how people around the city are coping with the cold weather.

How are you coping with the cold weather so far?

Also 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale cancelled the community meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday night. Also Ald. Beale sent out an e-mail on warming centers througout the city. As always call 311 for information on warming centers!

Finally the Tribune has news on alternative programming for children while schools are closed during this "polar vortex".

The YMCA of Metro Chicago is providing “School’s Out Day’’ activities at five Chicago facilities today and Tuesday, according to spokeswoman Michelle Damico.

Kids will be doing interactive crafts, active physical group games, skits and drama and other fun activities from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations:

McCormick Tribune: 1834 North Lawndale Ave.

High Ridge: 2424 W. Touhy Ave.

South Side: 6330 S. Stony Island Ave.

South Chicago: 3039 East 91st St.

Rauner Family: 2700 S. Western Ave.

Check back for updates.

CPS schools are closed on Monday

The notice above was posted to the CPS FB page today. CPS schools will be closed on Monday due to the expected weather for tomorrow. Schools had been closed on January 6th & 7th due to the extreme cold weather.

If you seek any further updates you can use the number above 773.553.1000 or call CPS hotline at 773.553.3100. You can also follow CPS on FB and on Twitter to seek further updates!

Since the "polar vortex" weather is back

I originally posted this information over at The Sixth Ward on January 6, 2013 during the first "polar vortex" episode. So this information remains important. Please remember if you need transportation to or information on the nearest warming center call 311.

State Rep. Elgie Sims (District 34) provides some more resources with regards to the weather in a recent email

Please use the following resources to keep you safe and warm:

• Keep warm Illinois
  • A website aimed at identifying warming centers around the state and other information necessary to assist with keeping warm during the cold months of the year.
• Getting around Illinois
  • The website will provide residents and motorists with information regarding the status of our roads. 
• ComED energy assistance
  • Customers are encouraged to notify ComED as quickly as possible if they experience an outage. 
  • Customers can text OUT to 26633 to report any outages and receive restoration information, or they can contact ComED by calling 1-800-EDISON-1.

And as always this:

Please check on elderly neighbors and make sure that you and any children under your care are sufficiently bundled up if you must go outside.  Please do not forget pets and keep them indoors during these extreme conditions.

Be careful out there everyone! Stay safe and warm!

CPS schools back in session on Wednesday

Well, it appears the two day extended vacation is over for CPS students. And perhaps the weather is starting to get better!

Message again via the CPS FB page where if you connect with them there will be updates on what's going on at CPS.