This week the powdery precipitation made conditions wetter. Business and industry establishments operated fewer hours/days due to closings. Some stores that were able to open operated with limited goods and services due to the wintry precipitation (short staff, power outages, delivery issues, leaks, etc.)A few problems with gas and electric energy were encountered as well. Some standing water was observed in the riparian zone and isolated street/sidewalk sub optimal drainage locations but the creek did not overflow and water level remained low. Plants and animals observed this week include hawks and buzzards. I observed many vacant dwellings of the order Hymenoptera although I did not see any flying insects. Wasp nests and mud dauber tubes are common in eaves under porches and hollow cylindrical surfaces (air vents, ditch drains, etc) on public and commercial buildings ranging in diameter from several feet wide to a few inches. In passing by some agricultural districts this week I saw cattle grazing, heard rooster crowing, and saw short grass growing on many of the row crop fields. A few residents participated in recreational sledding, but many recreational opportunities were cancelled this week. The governor declared a "state of emergency" during the wintry precipitation.