Northern Wisconsin Residents Dig Out As Snow Continues To Fall

Northern Wisconsin residents spent Tuesday digging out from an early winter storm that has dumped more than a foot of snow on some areas.

In the Lincoln County community of Merrill, Tom Lavin brought out his snow blower to clear the driveway in front of his home. He said he’s ready to embrace the season.

“I think it’s a little too early,” he said. “But now I can just throw another log on the fire, do the snow blowing and relax.”

A few doors down, Jesse Quade and Bonnie Koelsch were on their hands and knees putting tire chains on a John Deere snow tractor.

Said Bonnie on the winter storm: “We did get ready for it, but we’re still not wanting it.”

She said it’s the earliest she can remember this much snow falling in the season.

“Last year I had it on the calendar that we got it on the 22nd of November, but I don’t think we got this much even then,” she said.

Dustin Dengel used a snow tractor to clear the parking lot in front of the business his father owns. Dengel is a senior at Merrill High School, and with school called off, he’d been put to work.

“Been busy since about 8 this morning,” he said. “This is really surprising. I mean, we’ve had our first snow day and it’s not even halfway through November.”

Zach Nowinsky and Paul Link already had their snowmobiles out.

“I’m a big snowmobiler,” said Nowinski. “This is just wonderful. We couldn’t ask for any more snow.”

Link, for his part, said that he initially wasn’t sure if he was ready for the early winter.

“But it’s here. It’s going to stay. It’s time to get them out and start tearing up the fields,” he said.

All across northern Wisconsin, people are digging out from the first big snow of the year — and digging it.