Most civic buildings, schools and businesses shut down under heavy snow

February 22, 2013 at 6:00 a.m. | Updated February 22, 2013 at 6:00 a.m.

One of Fulton's seven snow plows fights to keep Court Street clear during torrential snowfall Thursday. Winter Storm Q put several inches on the ground early in Callaway County, forcing many schools, buildings and businesses to close.
One of Fulton's seven snow plows fights to keep Court Street clear during torrential snowfall Thursday. Winter Storm Q put several inches on the ground early in Callaway County, forcing many schools, buildings and businesses to close.

The biggest winter storm to hit mid-Missouri in two years has left Fulton and surrounding areas a veritable ghost town by Thursday afternoon.

Dubbed Winter Storm "Q' by meteorologists, the powerful storm dumped several inches of snow, ice and sleet across most of Missouri. A rapid accumulation of the wintry mix caused many facilities and organizations to close, and Gov. Jay Nixon to declare a state of emergency in the state.

Even civic buildings such as the Callaway County Courthouse were closed by noon, along with the Boone County Courthouse following an order from 13th Circuit Court Presiding Judge Jodie Asel.

Fulton City Hall remained open, out of which City Administrator Bill Johnson said the city's seven plows were hard at work combating the constant downpour of snow accumulating by the hour.

"Right now we're having a tough time keeping ahead of it," said Johnson. "It's coming down pretty good."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.