Perfect day for ice cream

For Dawn Emous, who moved to Georgia from Michigan in the 1980s, snow means it’s time for ice cream and sprinkles. After a session at Jessie Thornton’s United Karate Studio in Ringgold, Ga., she and her karate-kicking kids took the opportunity to walk to Shop Rite in the snow and buy ice cream for an “after-karate” party. When asked why they do that, she said: “Oh, that’s just what us Northerners do when it snows in the South.”

Chihuahua vs. snow

In LaFayette, Ga., Kelsie, a 5-pound Chihuahua, decided to stop the snow. Her barks were piercing as she jumped like a circus dog, biting at snowflakes. As the snow landed and stuck to the pavement, she stomped and scratched until her “spot” was clear. The process lasted almost 10 minutes until she decided the task was just not worth her warrior skills, so she headed back inside for a nap, safe under her blanket.

Ten-month old Oceana Goff crinkled her nose as the white snowflakes fell around her pink cheeks.

“I don’t think she knows what to think about the snow,” said Rebekah Goff, her mother.

It was the young family’s first visit to Chattanooga from Auburn, Ala., and the baby’s first snow.

With Mrs. Goff squeezing the bundled infant against her chest, her husband, Marcus, snapped photos as they stood on the edge of Coolidge Park.

“We love Chattanooga,” said Mr. Goff, looking out across the park beginning to be blanketed by white. “It is our first time to visit, but we are thinking about moving here.”

Too Tough for Cold

The cold temperature and snowy weather Thursday were nothing as far as Frederick Marshall was concerned.

“It’s all right. It’s not like snow other places, but it’s pretty fun to see,” said Mr. Marshall, who worked outside from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Walnut Street Bridge project.

A construction worker for Tower Construction, he said he has worked outside in worse conditions – such as the blizzard of 1993.

“It doesn’t bother me because it’s not that cold,” said Mr. Marshall, who donned multiple layers of clothes, hats and gloves.

The Flavor of Snow

For deli owner Bruce Weiss, snow means soup.

At River Street Deli in North Chattanooga, the lunch crowd demanded six gallons of Mr. Weiss’ potato leek soup, a 35 percent increase from a typical day, he said.

Near the end of the lunch rush only three cups were left.

“It’s cold. Soup is warm. It’s a comfort, and people like to sit there and have a hot bowl,” he said.

Sauced in the Snow

Thursday was a busy day at Jax Liquor, said owner Lisa Andrews.

Afraid that icy roads would cut them off from an alcohol supply, people rushed into the store on Market Street in downtown Chattanooga.

“They buy a little extra thinking, ‘Oh my gosh! What if I get snowed in the next few days?'” she said, laughing.

It never happens, but at least they are prepared, she said.

“I have been at this so long, I guess I am cynical,” Ms. Andrews said.

Slip slidin’ away

“If you don’t have to be on the road, don’t be on the road,” Walker County Coordinator David Ashburn said as roads got slicker Thursday afternoon.

The county had 11 vehicles sanding and salting, but ice was forming faster than they could work, he said.

The Georgia State Patrol Post 41 in LaFayette reported extremely treacherous conditions on local roads and about 20 minor accidents even before people started leaving for their evening commutes.

Correspondents Ales Campbell and Andy Diffenderfer contributed to this report.