County-wide Winter Wonderland

Friday, December 7, 2007

Kathy Fairchild and Eric Crump/Democrat-News

Oh... the weather outside is frightful. But the fire is delightful! And as long as you love me so! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. The staff at The Marshall Demcrat-News would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We also welcome anyone with an eye for a good winter picture to send us their favorite photos. Photos need to be taken within Saline County. We'll add them to this gallery. Please e-mail original, un-retouched photos to Rachel Harper at marshallcity@socket.net and include the name of the photographer and the day, time and place the photo was taken.

As the temperatures in recent weeks have bounced between balmy and brutally cold, we get occasions where moisture gets caught between, and the result is icicle art. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
More icicle art found Thursday, Feb. 7, on the back wall of the old Masonic Hall a half block west of the square in Marshall. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
Anyone who happened by the Marshall Habilitation Center lake shortly after sundown Thursday, Jan. 3, was treated to quite a show -- and admission was free. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
The performers were migrating geese -- thousands of them -- who chose the lake for their overnight stay. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

Wave after wave landed, silhouetted against the remaining glow of sunset, between 5 and 6 p.m. until the ice-free areas of the lake were packed with birds. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
The geese also kindly provided a soundtrack to their aerial act, a cacaphony of honking as they talked themselves through their landings and then chatted about the local accommodations, a sound roughly the equivalent of two dozen brass bands tuning up at the same time -- and never running out of breath. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
Trees may not be as colorful in winter as they are in other seasons, but they often display a kind of beauty nevertheless -- spare and intricate and a bit somber. These photos were taken Sunday afternoon, Jan. 6. The scene above is looking west from Route H near the intersection with Route KK near Blackwater. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
The scene above is looking west on Route KK between Highway 41 and Blackwater. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
The last sunrise of the year was miraculous with its light blues, oranges, reds and pinks piercing through the morning sky on Monday, Dec. 31. This is the view that morning motorists saw as they were commuting to work on U.S. Highway 65. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News)
The last sunset was even better than the last sunrise of the year. This spectacular view closed out 2007. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News)
Oranges, yellows, pinks and blues shot through the sky in the last few hours of daylight on the last day of the year. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News)
Goodbye 2007! (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News)
The morning rain Wednesday, Jan. 16, provides a spectacular display of one vibrant-colored rainbow, with another lighter rainbow mimicking it in the background. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News)
(Rachel Harper/Democrat-News)
(Rachel Harper/Democrat-News)
As the sun came up, the sky changed from orange to different shades of blue. The rainbows made a crown over The Marshall Democrat-News and the Post Office. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News)
Brandon Ortega and Blake Rutherford (in the barrel) attempt an unusual method of sledding Saturday, Dec. 15, on the hill just east of Eastwood Elementary School in Marshall. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
After a while, just sledding straight down hill gets a bit old for adventurous kids. Will Raines demonstrates his sledding agility by diving successfully from one sled to another in mid-run, one of a number of variations attempted by sledders Saturday, Dec. 15, at the hill just east of Eastwood Elementary School in Marshall. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
When the sledding hill beckons, kids have to heed the call, even if it means braving moderately heavy snow on two wheels. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
Brandon Ortega and Blake Rutherford lauch a barrel down the Eastwood school sledding hill Saturday, Dec. 15, giving a friend a wild ride. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
Karl Banty careens toward the camera during a sledding run Saturday. Fortunately, he missed the photographer -- by inches -- on his way past. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
Javan Whitney Warner closes her eyes against a spray of snow as she sails down the hill while sledding Saturday near Eastwood school in Marshall. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
K.K. Elfrink of Marshall makes the trek back up the hill after a run on her saucer sled. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
Thursday, Dec. 6, was a good day for shovelers. Christopher Stockman, 4, can't resist taking a break from shoveling to douse his father, Chris Stockman, with a shovel full of snow. In fairness, his father had given Christopher a shot of snow just prior to this photo. The Saline County area received about 3.5 inches of snow during the afternoon hours. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
A plow flings snow from the road through Indian Foothills Park in Marshall Thursday afternoon, Dec. 6, keeping the way clear for motorists taking an early peek at the park's Winter Wonderland display. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
The afternoon was worse for bicyling than was the morning, as illustrated by this Marshall youngster who chose to push his bike home from school rather than risk the treacherous terrain of the snow-covered Brunswick Street. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
Santa waves from the porch of a residence on the campus at Marshall Habilitation Center Thursday, Dec. 6, as the first snow of the season falls. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
(Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
(Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
(Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
(Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
"When what to my wondering eye did appear but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, with a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick..." (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
(Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
"Angels we have heard on high..." (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
The Christmas train is just arriving in a tiny town on the campus of the Marshall Habilitation Center, located on East Slater Street. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
Captain Hook's pirate ship glides through the snow on the campus of the Hab Center, flying the Jolly Roger, with the captain himself at the helm. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
"Sheep may safely graze" (or in this case, reindeer) through the early evening hours of Dec. 6, during the season's first snowfall. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
(Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
Santa and Mrs. Claus made an impressive appearance atop the Marshall Fire Department's 95-foot ladder truck in the annual Christmas Parade in Marshall Friday, Dec. 7. The Marshall square was looking festive with a fresh coat of snow adding a sparkling backdrop to the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade. Chamber Executive Director Ken Yowell announced winners of the float competition. The Bizy Beaver 4-H Club won top honors and a $100 prize. The Hicks Family float took second place and a $75 prize. And the First Baptist Church received the $50 third prize. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
George and Marie Benham of Marshall shared the title of Grand Marshall for the annual Marshall Christmas parade Friday, Dec. 7. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
What would Christmas be without a drummer boy...and girl! (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
This float from First Baptist Church in Marshall took third place in the annual Christmas parade Friday, Dec. 7. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
Dylan Fornshell, son of April and Steve Fornshell of Marshall, livened up his band uniform with Christmas decor. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
Despite the cold, Mayor Connie Latimer flashed her wonderful smile at the Dec. 7 Christmas parade in Marshall. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
Trilumina Lodge of Marshall fielded this entry in the annual Christmas parade. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
Democrat-News photographers at the Marshall Christmas parade Friday, Dec. 7, could have made good use of a pair of these gloves, worn by members of the Marshall High School Band. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
From left, Jene Crook, Linda Smith and David Huck of Marshall Lions Club, head for the square with bags of candy for the annual Christmas parade, Dec. 7. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News)
In the season of lights, the full moon gets in the act, lingering in the early morning sky on Christmas Eve in Marshall. This photo, capturing the moon bracketed by the Saline County Courthouse tower and the First Baptist Church steeple was taken about 7:20 a.m. Dec. 24 looking northwest from the 100 block of East Arrow Street. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)
An early Christmas present! (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)