Sheriff offers thanks

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk offered his thanks to citizens adhering to the snow emergency Tuesday, as road commission members were able to clear key roads in the area.

As a result, the travel advisory was lifted at noon Tuesday, four hours earlier than its original expiration.

Balk said the emergency is declared in situations when road crews need vehicles off the roadways so they can work both lanes simultaneously. Oncoming traffic and cars abandoned by the side of the road greatly compromise the efforts of the road commission, Balk said.

The emergency remained in effect in Cass County through the day Tuesday.