The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • Melody Smith enjoys warm weather at the Freedom Skate Park Saturday in Beckley. W. Dayton Whittle

    spring
March 20, 2010

Has spring sprung for the area?

By Brad Johnson Register-Herald Reporter

Residents got outside to enjoy the sunshine on the first official day of spring Saturday, even as many of them dreaded the possibility of even more wintry weather on the horizon.

“This is a welcome change to all the rain and snow,” Michael Waddell of Beckley said as he enjoyed the weather with his family. “But we might have one more good snow and that’ll be it. I’ve seen it in years past, where it got pretty like this but there was still a little bit more winter around the corner.

“I’m ready for it to be over, though,” Waddell said. “I drive a gas truck and I don’t like driving in that stuff. Some days we couldn’t even get off our lot, let alone make it down the roads. It’s been a mess.”

The temperature reached 68 degrees in Beckley Saturday afternoon, and many enjoyed the weather without coats, some even wearing shorts and other summer clothing.

Today could bring back memories of the winter just past, however. The National Weather Service is calling for cooler temperatures for the next three days. There is a strong chance of rain tonight and Monday, and a chance of a rain/snow mix Monday night, when temperatures will be in the low 30s, according to the NWS.

There is also a good chance of rain or snow Tuesday, but the temperature should be back up to 60 degrees with sunny skies by Wednesday, the NWS predicts.

Kids skateboarding and riding bikes at Beckley Freedom Park Saturday weren’t worried about any bad weather on the way, however. There were just soaking up the sunshine after a long, hard winter.

“I’ve been stuck inside all winter. I came out here to the park and shoveled snow at one point, I wanted to get out here so bad,” Dennis Ijames, 17, of Glen Daniel, said.

“After all that hard work in the wintertime, shoveling snow and everything, you get to come out here with your friends and have fun. It’s awesome,” said Justin Selleck, 18, of Odd. “It feels like the start of a new year, almost.”

“It’s a relief,” Tim Noel, 16, of Daniels, said. The cold weather just makes you feel gloomy and down. It was great getting days off from school, but it got a little much.”

A group of girls at the park were already talking about sunbathing.

“I’m being careful in the sun today because I don’t want to get sunburned already,” said Hannah Herold, 15, of Shady Spring, who wore a jacket.

“I want to get sunburned! I just want this white to go away,” Kayla Farmer, 15, of Shady Spring, said with a laugh, rolling up her sleeves.

“I wanted to wear shorts but I think my legs are too pasty,” said Beth Shahan, 15, of Ghent, laughing. “Winter was rough, but I liked the getting out of school part.”

Adults seemed more seriously relieved that spring has come.

“We know that in the winter, when it’s dark, it affects people. It makes them tired; they don’t have energy. But when the sun comes out, everybody feels better,” said Lori Bostic of Beckley, enjoying the sun with her son James Wesley, who is 29 months old.

“I’m praying the snow is finished now,” she said.

“I’m really happy spring is here, but I think it’s just a break,” Erica Leftwich, of Beckley, said. “I think we’re going to get that one last storm that they’re talking about this week.”

“I love the weather, and I love this park,” said Charles Branham of Church Street in Beckley, sitting on a bench at Freedom Park. “My grandkids love to come here.”

Branham offered his own weather forecast.

“I think winter is over,” he said. “I don’t care what the almanac or the weatherman says. We deserve it. We’ve suffered long enough.”

— E-mail: bjohnson@register-herald.com

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