'A real taste of winter'

COEUR d’ALENE — When Trish Williams lost control of her car and it got stuck on a snow berm Wednesday afternoon, it seemed hopeless. She wasn't going anywhere.

Then, help began to arrive at Second Street and Lakeside Avenue.

First one man. Then another and another and another. Then two police officers.

They shoveled snow from under the car and cleared it from the front and rear. They rocked and pushed the small silver vehicle, until finally, after about five minutes, it rolled free.

A thankful Williams started to drive away, then she stopped. The men were walking away.

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” she said through tears.

As Williams sat in her car, she was overwhelmed at how so many responded so quickly when she most needed help.

“It’s just amazing, she said, struggling for the right words. “A Coeur d’Alene blessing.”

Wednesday’s blizzard closed schools, caused numerous accidents and saw some downtown businesses closing early so employees could make it home before road conditions worsened.

With temperatures near 10 degrees and a high of 19 on Wednesday, more pipes froze and burst, with reports of damage at Cold Stone Creamery in Riverstone, Rite Aid on Prairie Avenue and a senior living facility on Sherman Avenue.

Plumbers and others were repairing ceilings, walls and floors at the Dingle Building on Sherman Avenue, where businesses suffered water damage when a pipe burst over the weekend, with HeatPraxia the hardest hit.

Climatologist Cliff Harris said 7.6 inches of light, fluffy snow fell between 1 a.m. and 4 p.m., nearly as much as the 8.8 inches that came down in October, November and December combined.

“A real taste of winter,” Harris said.

It was the most snow in one day in Coeur d'Alene since 8.2 inches fell Dec. 27, 2022.

People were out shoveling and snow blowing nonstop snow.

Kayla Brazeau with The Coeur d’Alene Resort was, for the third time, clearing the sidewalk on Sherman Avenue in front of Tito’s Italian Grill and Wine Shop.

She and colleagues were doing their best to push snow to the side all around The Plaza Shops.

She stopped at one point to catch her breath and leaned against the shovel. She was tired, but determined.

“It’s good,” Brazeau said. “I like being in the snow."

She looked at the snow still coming down and shook her head.

“It’s not giving up, that’s for sure,” she said.

Paige Change got off work early at Lucky Monkey on Sherman Avenue and was making her way through the falling flakes. She knew snow was in the forecast, but the blast caught her by surprise.

“I wasn’t really expecting it to be this much,” she said. 

Mike Heflebower of Colorado got snowed in and had to spend another day in Coeur d’Alene. 

“We were supposed to go home today,” he said.

His flight out was rescheduled to this morning, and he was headed to Hawaii on Saturday.

Heflebower said he has a home in Steamboat Springs, where they received 51 inches of snow in 72 hours.

“This is nothing,” he said, laughing.

Lacey Moen, owner of Earthly Beauty Bar on Fourth Street, grabbed a shovel and cleared the sidewalk in front of her store, while front desk manager Kendra Morgan tossed down salt. 

She didn't consider closing and going home.

“What it comes down to is, you show up for your clients because they’re going to show up for me,” Moen said. 

She didn’t mind the heavy snowfall, and said it was pretty much overdue, anyway.

“The winter has to get here before it can leave,” Moen said. “I’m always happy when it’s here because then I know it’s going to end eventually.”

“And it makes you appreciate the sunshine,” Moen added.

A number of people retreated into Hudson’s Hamburgers, where warmth and cheeseburgers await. The aroma of a Huddy burger drifted outside and up to Third Street.

Manager Jeremy Babcock said snowplow drivers and plumbers were among their customers, fueling up before heading back out to do battle.

“It’s nice and warm in here,” he said.

Despite the weather and few folks on the streets, Hudson’s planned to remain open until its regular closing hour, 5:30, just in case someone needed refuge from the storm.

“We never know what’s going to go on,” Babcock said.

“We could be here for 20 minutes with nobody and then a dozen people come in,” employee Dalton Cone added.

Harris expects more snow Friday and early Saturday, but said it will then warm up to about 40. He is calling for rain starting late Saturday and continuing for several days, which will likely create a slushy mess.

“It's going to get wetter and warmer,” Harris said.

    Kayla Brazeau with The Coeur d’Alene Resort leans on her shovel as she takes a quick break from clearing the sidewalk on Sherman Avenue in front of Tito’s Italian Grill and Wine Shop on Wednesday
  

    Bruce Normstrom mans a snowblower near 19th Street and Mullan Avenue on Wednesday.
  

    People run across Sherman Avenue during Wednesday's blizzard.
  

    Snow and lights give a glow to Sherman Avenue on Wednesday.
  

    Lacey Moen, owner of Earthly Beauty Bar on Fourth Street, holds a shovel and Kendra Morgan carries the salt as they cleared the sidewalk Wednesday.