A little self promotion is better than none
Local reader Betty Hultz was reminded by the current snow flurries up in the mountains of last year's rare snowfall here in the Valley. Her grandson from San Antonio, Scott Stewart, was visiting and decided to make a snowman. To finish off the work of art, he grabbed that day's Review-Journal. Everyone reads the Review-Journal.
Dec. 18 was the day we printed a bit of news doggerel:
’Twas the week before Christmas, when all up the Strip Not a sunbeam was shining, not even a bit.
The towers were shrouded in a gray, foggy cloud As slushy snowflakes gently fell all about.
The tourists were bundled, their cheeks rosy red While visions of jackpots danced in their heads.
Those hoping for sunshine could do nothing but mourn As Las Vegas was hit with a rare winter storm.
Jenn Story from Canada scoffed at the snow When she took off from Calgary, it was 20 below.
The chill in her country was colder by far As for snowfall on palm trees, one word: “Bizarre.”
For the Coelho family from warmclimed Brazil The snow was a first and a bit of a thrill.
Out came the smiles and the joy in their eyes As the children caught snowflakes that fell from the skies.
On the Strip and beyond the snow fell all Wednesday Causing havoc on roadways and air traffic delays.
McCarran grounded all flights so no planes could leave Only landings allowed in the wintry scene.
Marie Freeman came with her husband, just back from Iraq Monday’s storm delayed the flight in, Wednesday’s nixed the trip back.
With a long night ahead, the trapped pair was still grinning They’d come back in summer “when we can go swimming.”
U.S. Highway 95 closed at cold Railroad Pass And at Interstate 15 in Primm, no cars could go past.
Atop Mount Charleston snow tires were a must While the road to Pahrump was closed by snow dust.
Higher elevations saw more than 8 inches in all While some parts of the valley below had 4 inches fall.
Late in the night with flakes still coming down, It was declared the eighth-greatest flurry to ever hit town.
Down on the Strip tourists still braved the storm Finding cover in lobbies and casinos to stay warm.
Up umbrellas! On scarves! On jackets and gloves!
Some grumbled at the weather, some professed love.
For Shawn Smith of Orlando, Fla., the snow was a treat When he came here before it was unbearable heat.
He wished for some snow, now he had the white stuff Not a white Christmas, but for him close enough.
By BRIAN HAYNES and FRANCIS McCABE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Reporters Henry Brean, Antonio Planas and Benjamin Spillman contributed to this report.
