SPRING: ONLY 57 DAYS AWAY!

Mother Nature is strong-willed and must believe the folks in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois are the same way. Otherwise, the past week's weather conditions, which we think are better suited to North Dakota, might not have drifted into our region and lingered as if a welcomed guest. Still, throughout the cold snap, people of this area have done all right for themselves.

For the crews charged with keeping roads passable, there could hardly have been a worse weather scenario presented last Sunday: a thick layer of ice provided by freezing rain, followed by a relatively heavy snow, followed by record-setting cold temperatures. Thoroughfares became nearly unfixable; while snow could be plowed and material could be distributed on road surfaces (considerable tasks in themselves), the frigid conditions prevented chemicals from liquefying the ice. Despite this, the local street department acquitted itself well through sheer diligence to the task. Without the aid of any natural melting that more normal temperatures could have provided, the crews did a creditable job in getting streets in reasonable shape for motorists.

In addition, the state highway department, which manages the maintenance of some of the arterial streets in Cape Girardeau, not to mention the interstate and major roads in the county, also battled the adverse conditions and did a commendable job. In the aftermath of the icing, Interstate 55 seemed more suitable for sledding than driving, though persistent effort kept it open.

Where the road crews could not manage to clear the pavement, motorists made due. Drivers caught a break with the Monday holiday, with fewer people required to be on the roads, but travelers had to reacquaint themselves with the perplexity of traction and perils of inertia. There were more than a few fender-benders, and the occasional slide off a roadway, but generally injuries were kept to a minimum.

The Mississippi River, in one of nature's more unusual ironies, was filled beyond the brim last summer but now finds itself at a seriously low level, with ice floes that are hindering barge traffic. A restriction has been issued by the Coast Guard on the size of barge tows.

Schools and even some businesses remained closed during the worst of the conditions, and many stores that did open (and weren't merchandising the apparatus of snow removal) saw a dramatic decline in patronage. Some schools in the region remained closed through Friday, and some may have to eventually make up the lost days. The businesses will do their best to make up for the lost sales. Plans are sent awry with a storm like this, and the only reasonable response is to protect yourself against the elements, shrug your shoulders and yield to the vagaries of nature.

From a celestial standpoint, winter began 33 days ago, meaning there are 57 days remaining before spring. We concede there will be other days here like the ones we've had this week, possibly even this year. That thought enhances our wish that those 57 days pass quickly.