KEYSTONE CLIPS Roadside snow piles present danger for kids, PennDOT says

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reminds parents that snow piles left along the road by snowplows are not play areas and children shouldn't climb on or tunnel through them. Northwestern Pennsylvania has experienced a large snowfall over the past several weeks, resulting in snowbanks' building up along state highways.
The big piles are attractive to children, but they are dangerous. They obstruct the view of motorists who might not spot children playing on or near them.
There's also the danger of snow and debris being thrown onto the pile by a passing snowplow.
Large plowing trucks can throw snow a great distance from the side of the road, PennDOT warns.
It's been a wet winter
Mother Nature took up in January right where she left off in December in terms of keep the Shenango Valley damper than normal. The Shenango Valley Division of Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. said total precipitation for January reached 3.16 inches, well above the normal 2.34 inches for that month.
Normal precipitation for a whole year in the Shenango Valley is about 40.6 inches.
The Valley got 45.85 inches in 2002 and 50.67 inches in 2003, according to the water company's records.
Grant for fire department
The South New Castle Borough Volunteer Fire Department is getting some help from the state. Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Ed Mann announced that the Lawrence County department is getting a $13,500 federal grant.
The money comes from the U.S. Fire Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Office of Homeland Security.
The money will be used for fire operations and firefighter safety equipment.
XCONTRIBUTORS: Harold Gwin and Laure Cioffi, Vindicator Pa. staff