State Workers Help Clean Up Tree Limbs

Hundreds of state employees left their desk jobs Friday to hit the streets in a massive cleanup aimed at clearing tree limbs downed by a devastating snowstorm that swept the Plains.

At the request of Gov. Ben Nelson, state employees worked alongside nearly 500 Nebraska National Guard troops in Omaha, Lincoln and surrounding areas.

One crew of about five workers descended on Irene Howard’s house in Lincoln to clear away a tree that fell over her sidewalk and driveway.

“It’s just a godsend,” Howard said. “It’s so wonderful of them to come out and help.”

Also on Friday, searchers in Colorado found the body of a woman who disappeared during the height of last weekend’s blizzard.

The body of Mae Virginia Hunter, 76, was found under 6 feet of snow about 600 yards from the spot where her abandoned car was found in Rocky Ford, Colo. The discovery brings to 18 the number of deaths blamed on the storm, which affected seven states.

An estimated 22,000 electric customers remained without power Friday. About 110 people without power spent Thursday night at shelters in Lincoln and Omaha.

Nearly 11,000 telephone customers were without service Friday.