It was a winter wonderland last week in Whitehall and the surrounding areas.

A fierce winter storm made its way into the Lower Jefferson Valley late last Thursday evening and the snow did not let up until early Saturday morning.

The storm made things difficult at Whitehall High School, who was playing host to Saturday's MHSA Class B quarterfinal football matchup between the Trojans and Shelby. School officials reported they removed between 18 and 20 inches from the football field. On both November 3, and prior to the November 4 game at 1 p.m., a crew led by Calvin Johnson helped clear the field. Local residents also assisted the morning before the game with shoveling walkways and clearing the bleachers.

Whitehall resident Sarah Smart, who lives in the Toll Mountain area, reported 18 inches of snowfall.

On Friday afternoon, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department reported multiple spin-offs on Homestake Pass, Cardwell Hill Pass, Elk Park Pass, Highway 69, Highway 287 and Highway 55.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning on Friday, November 3 for Whitehall and the surrounding area, with initial predictions of 4 to 8 inches in the valleys and 8 to 16 inches in the mountains.

Jack H. Smith

The Mini Nickel newspaper box outside the Ledger office had over a foot of snow between late Thursday evening and Saturday at 11 a.m.