Item: Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow: Winter to continue another 6 weeks/AP

More Info: According to German superstition, if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says, spring will come early. Since 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, hasn’t seen it 15 times, and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. In reality, Phil doesn’t see much of anything. The result is actually decided in advance by 14 members of the club’s Inner Circle, who don tuxedos and top hats for the event.

Question: Are you ready for another 6 weeks of winter?

“We haven’t seen new snowfall in North Idaho for the past several days,” posts Councilwoman KerriT/OnLocation North Idaho, “but the fog combined with freezing temperatures has decorated the pine trees on the Rathdrum Prairie in winter white.”

Item: Other cities not as forgiving toward those who don’t shovel sidewalks/Dan Hansen, SR

More Info: Stowell reached the point of frustration after her district and others repeatedly urged the public to clear their sidewalks. Some obliged. But there’s no penalty for those who did not; local ordinances requiring the removal of snow from sidewalks are not enforced.

Question: Should North Idaho cities crack down on scofflaw residents and businesses who don’t shovel snow from their sidewalks?

Item: Good Samaritans tough to find: Volunteers to shovel roofs, sidewalks in short supply/Tom Hasslinger, CDA Press

More Info: They don’t make them like they used to. Kind-hearted Samaritans who used to volunteer their time shoveling out disabled and elderly people during Coeur d’Alene winters have disappeared under this year’s record snowfall. And the 100-plus inches of snow, sleet and ice has left entrepreneurs in their place. “Seems like everybody’s out to make a buck,” said Vickie Harrison, manager of Lake City Senior Center. “Not that you can blame them.”

Question: Have you been helped unexpectedly by a Good Samaritan this winter?

We’ve been handed a deck of cards that is, for all intents and purposes, stacked against us. We’ve been short-sheeted in the atmospheric department so far this winter. In short, it’s been hard times of late. Also, lately around these parts, there’s been a lot of what I call “bitching and moaning” about the former stacked weather cards and shorted atmospheric sheets. But you know what? We live here. We dance here. This is what we’ve been dealt and we must either deal with it, or lose our minds. Complaining does no good. The almighty has dealt us this stacked deck, and we must use the abilities we’ve been endowed with to meet it head on. Therefore, I propose the people of the Inland Northwest start dancing with the one who brought them, as it were/Toadman, Synaptic Disunion. More here.

Question: On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being an absolute meltdown), how have you dealt with the winter this year?

Item: Physical shoveling proves to be pain in the back: Therapists see influx of snow-removal strains/Alecia Warren, CDA Press

More Info: Physical therapists see influx of snow removal strains. Everything was fine while Devonne was chucking humps of snow out of her driveway last month. Only after she shed her shovel and jacket inside did the pain hit. And it hit hard.

Question: Did you injure yourself in any way removing snow this winter?

As first reported in Scanner Traffic Wednesday, a local driver was threatened by another motorist with dark-colored hatchet about 3 o’clock at Ragan Equipment, 320 W. Hanley. Seems John Brand cut Road Rager off when a snow berm caused two lanes of traffic to abruptly become one at Kathleen and Government Way. Next thing John knew, Road Rager, in a white Ford Expedition, was on his tail, flipping him off and brandishing a rusty black knife, which the man drew across his throat while he pointed at him. Road Rager followed John to Ragan Equipment, where he jumped out the car, wielding a hatchet in a threatening manner while approaching within 20 feet. At that point, trucker George Williams stepped between the two and told the man to “chill out.” Road Rager left as soon as he saw Randy Ragan of Ragan Equipment dialing 911. Be careful out there.

Jim Almond, a former police auxiliary member who works for Robideaux Motors, had a close encounter with a zany before Christmas. Seems Jim was in the Costco parking lot, driving round and round looking for a spot. With a female driver following him closely. At last, a spot opened before him and he took it. Only to have the driver behind him stop and yell: “That was my spot.” Surprised by the taunt, Jim noticed her license plates, from California. He isn’t proud of what he said next, in the heat of the moment and all, but out came: “Go back to California where you belong.” Not bad for spur of the moment. For his troubles, he found himself looking down the wrong end of a handgun. The woman reportedly pulled one on him while still sitting in the car. Jim knocked it out of her hand and called the police. Be careful out there.

Dozens of young men and women, employed by Eastside Excavation, scramble off the roof after shoveling off Athol Elementary today in the Lakeland School District. The group was headed toward Garwood Elementary next. Jesse Tinsley/SR photo.

Colleague Alison Boggs is working the phones after we received and confirmed tips (from ThomG & S&S Herb) that the schools in the Coeur d’Alene and Lakeland school districts will close again Wednesday. We’re checking out a rumor that there may be a problem with the Lake City High gym.

JanTri/Brand X Ranch had some fun with Photoshop today. Looks as though one of our HBOers was ready in Sophie this morning when the Bulgarians had an epiphany.

I love snow.  Truly.  But the berms on the sides of our driveway have grown so high that I had to plant warning flags on the crests to keep them from being hit by passing helicopters.  I chased a couple of mountaineers off of one yesterday.  Fortunately, one of them dropped his copy of Into Thin Air as he scrambled away over the lunar-looking landscape, so now I’ll have something to read today as we enjoy our fourth snow day of the year.  Yes, fourth/Katrina, Notes On A Napkin. More here.

*Three Things/Tumblewords

*Things we have learned to live without in the nightmare that has become part of our lives/TUBOB

*Back to the grind/Silver Valley Stories

*Shovel it forward/Slight Detour

*Where will you be Jan. 20?/Wayward Episcopalian

HBO Numbers (Monday, Jan. 5): 6069 page-views/3486 unique views

 Kjell Sthioeberg strides uphill near Coeur d’Alene during a 10-mile run Monday. Despite record snowfall in North Idaho, those who are determined face the winter blast to exercise outdoors regularly. (AP Photo/Coeur d’Alene Press, Jerome A. Pollos)

*Kellogg woman sentenced for impersonating FBI agent/Alison Boggs, SR

*Big Sky structure falls as workers were ready to shovel roof/Bill Buley, CDA Press

*Pinehurst man to be sentenced for double murder today/Ty Hampton, Shoshone News Press

Item: Roof snow load levels close area schools: Snow-covered sidewalks, narrow streets cause concern for student safety/Brian Walker & Maureen Dolan, CDA Press

Officials in the Coeur d’Alene and Lakeland school districts decided late Monday afternoon that schools would be closed today so they could deal with heavy snow loads on school rooftops. In the Post Falls district, roofs were cleared during the winter break so no early decision to close was made. The snow load levels in the Lakeland district were approaching 30 pounds per square foot Monday afternoon. The district’s roofs have a 35-pound limit

Question: Are school officials being overly cautious or prudent in closing schools to check snow loads? Should this have been done at Coeur d’Alene and Lakeland schools during Christmas vacation?

Chatterbox: Can anyone out there confirm there is no school tomorrow in Coeur d’Alene? At least for Lake City High School? Sonny-boy texted us with that news as he’s on his way to Wallace for a basketball game. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

DFO: An e-mail was circulated throughout the Coeur d’Alene School District this afternoon, informing staffers that schools will be closed Tuesday. This will allow school officials to assess the possible threat posed by snow load on school buildings. Shinie notes that Lakeland School District already has announced that schools will be closed tomorrow, too. Also closed will be North Idaho Christian.

Pecky Cox/As The Lake Churns spotted a sight that brought a grin to her face while she was out & about at Priest Lake. She has just returned from a vacation at warmer climes. So she might be sporting a tan yet.