The so-called polar vortex of wintery, dense, frigid air passed through our area this past week, setting records across the state; Charleston at -3, Huntington at -4, Parkersburg at -6, Morgantown at -7, Beckley at -9 and Wheeling at -10. Schools in all fifty five counties were closed due to the winter storm, Clay County students missing Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Residents in Clay awoke to sub-zero temperatures on Tuesday morning, many with frozen water lines and cars that wouldn’t start. Wind chills fell to nearly 20 below zero. Early week’s snowfall took days to thaw as interstates and major highways were partially clear by Tuesday afternoon, but some secondary roads still had some snow and ice through the end of the week. Thankfully no major accidents or injuries were reported as a result of the weather.