The packed lot of New Prairie School Saturday night (New Prairie School photo; click to enlarge)
Stranded folks make fast friends in the school gym. They were able to get some sustenance from the cafeterias. (School photo; click to enlarge)
From the New Prairie High School Facebook page, posted by Principal Greg Dettinger late Saturday night, Feb. 14, 2015:
“Everyone is now home safely, except for the swim team which we had stop and stay the night in West Lafayette. We ended up opening the school as a shelter for stranded motorists since we had 18 students and five coaches and two bus drivers here waiting for the travel ban to be lifted.
“It was quite a sight to see hundreds of cars and big rigs bumper to bumper down Cougar road all the way from (Highway) 2, for more than an hour and a half. When all said and done, we ended up topping out at around 450 people who came in for safe shelter.
“I want to thank Superintendent Dermody for authorizing the use of our school, and Food Services Director Tammy Watkins for allowing us to use the high school food supplies to take care of the needs of these tired and hungry travelers.
“It wouldn’t have been possible without great management by Brian Williamson, athletic director, as well as Bruce Lasley, our transportation director, and our outside facilities manager, Bill Rose, who along with Bruce, pushed snow clearing our large and small parking lots as well as Cougar Road, so the deputies could bring traffic from Highway 2 down to our school.
“We also want to thank LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd, who helped us coordinate this entire project and public service and to several of his deputies who worked tirelessly in freezing and blinding conditions to get everyone here safely. We had support and escorts from Kankakee Township Fire as well. We want to recognize our professional bus drivers for getting all of our students back to the school safely.
“I want to thank our wrestling coaches and poms coach for helping with everything tonight and staying with their students until all could be safely picked up.
“We want to thank all of you parents who trust us with your kids. I know, that you know, we treat them, and care for them, as if they were our own, and that ALL decisions we make about transportation, events, cancellations, etc., are always with their safety first in mind.
“As of the time of this post, 11:20 p.m. school time (Feb. 14), all NPUSC students are home and accounted for as well as all of our employees.
“We are still open as a shelter and will be all night long. We have approximately 13 people stranded and staying the night and we are grateful the sheriff has posted a deputy to stay here the night with myself and the stranded motorists.
“This will be a Valentine’s Day to remember. Good thing my wife still loves me!
“We can now say that Our House is Everyone’s House in a time of emergency. Another great day to be a part of Our Cougar Nation!”
