This is what the drifts looked like on Bryan & Connie Bechtel’s impassable driveway before it was cleared. Photo courtesy Connie Bechtel
For those of us who live in town, we might not understand the extent of how stranded folks in the country can be. The dangerous combination of deep snow, high winds, and sub-zero temperatures has produced drifting and plenty of impassable county roads in our area.
This Sunday, January 14, Bryan Bechtel, who lives with his wife Connie about three miles southwest of Henderson, was starting to get pretty worried about his situation. His 1/2 mile long driveway was completely blown shut, as well as Road Z.
Due to complications from a heart condition, Bechtel has been receiving dialysis in Grand Island three days a week. He had already missed his dialysis on Friday and knew if he didn’t get in on Monday, he’d be really sick.
“I was starting to get really nervous since we were unable to start our tractor, and my closest neighbor Kurt & Kathryn Goertzen couldn’t either,” said Bechtel. He had already called the county and found out the maintainer was too far east in the county to make it over in time.
His last resort was to put out an urgent request on Facebook on Sunday, January 14. Here’s what he posted on Sunday at about 1 p.m.
“Henderson friends. I really need to get out to go to a dialysis appointment tomorrow. Does someone have a snowmobile that would be willing to come out and get me and take me to town?”
He put his plea for help on Facebook because all other ideas just weren’t working. “Even if I’d call 911, they wouldn’t be able to get down our road, let alone the 1/2 mile driveway,” said Bechtel. He was thinking maybe someone with a snowmobile might be able to assist him.
His post garnered plenty of comments and shares, but it wasn’t until he called Alan Janzen, who owns Circle Five Beef, that he got the answer he needed. “Alan said they had a large payloader at the feedlot that they had used to get through large drifts, and he thought they could help,” said Bechtel.
By 2:30 p.m., Travis Miller and Derrick Regier from Circle Five (which is four miles away from Bechtel’s) had managed to cut a lane down Road Z and clear through Bechtel’s long and heavily drifted-shut driveway. There were some sizable drifts, so they used the bucket on the payloader to dump snow over the fence, but they eventually created a lane so Bryan could drive out safely.
The Circle Five payloader cut a clear path down Bechtel’s driveway, making it driveable. Photo courtesy Connie Bechtel
“Derrick Regier followed me all the way into town to make sure I made it,” said Bechtel. His wife Connie followed as well in a separate vehicle. He stayed with his mother-in-law, Marlene Thieszen, in Henderson Sunday night, planning to get to Grand Island for his 10 a.m. appointment on Monday.
“I’m eternally grateful for the help from Circle Five, and I really don’t know what I would have done without them coming to the rescue,” said Bechtel.
Other folks in the county have had some trying times with the combination of the extremely low temperatures, wind, and large drifts keeping them from being able to dig out, let alone leave. There were many reports of power outages around York County.
On Sunday, in a York County press release, York County Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier said the county’s road crews are “out in force this morning, doing all they can, to open roads. We have 13 patrols (maintainers) out right now, as well as trucks with blades.”
“Yesterday, some of our machines got stuck while trying to move snow, so it’s been a real challenge. They are continuing to move snow to get roads open. But we just ask for everyone to be patient,” said Obermier.
He also said If help is needed from livestock producers, they can call 402-362-5573 for assistance from the roads department.
Bechtel said he had heard from neighbors that the county maintainer had started clearing Road Z late Sunday afternoon. He is feeling relieved that he made it to town safely and cannot thank Circle Five enough for answering his call for help and averting a medical emergency.
