Weather Watch
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The latest updates on weather, road conditions and closures
Students who would like access to laboratories in the Dow Center, Purvine or Cornett halls are asked to call Campus Safety at 885.1111.
The Mazama High School basketball game against Ashland will be today on Miles Court. The Klamath Symphony performance will be in the College Union on Saturday as scheduled.
Posted 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 -- Henley, Chiloquin and Mazama high schools will be open Friday after three days of closures. No damage was found on any of the school buildings.
Posted 2:10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 -- Classes at Oregon Institute of Technology will be canceled for Friday so snow removal operations can continue. The Residence Hall and College Union will remain open. Food service will be available in the College Union. Staff at the Residence Hall, Campus Dining, Facilities Services and Campus Safety should report to work Friday.
Posted 1:50 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 -- Snow removal has begun on Oregon Institute of Technology's Owens Hall and a professional engineer was consulted about building safety. Due to the weight of accumulated snow and overnight rain, the roofs of Owens, Semon and Boivin halls are sagging. The school is closed today.
Posted 11:08 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 --Expect a 20-minute delay on Highway 140 between mileposts 35-53, six miles north of Beatty. The delay is due to standing water on top of ice in the road, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. Posted 11:30 a.m. --The Oregon Department of Human Services office for Children, Adults and Families at 700 Klamath Avenue in Klamath Falls will reopen at 1 p.m. today.
Highway is still closed at mileposts 28-65, with Highway 62 opening up a bit. It is still closed between mileposts 66 and 84.
Posted 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 -- OIT has now canceled all classes today. The College Union will remain open. An announcement about Friday classes will be made at about 5 p.m. today.
Posted 8:50 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 -- Starting immediately, city crews will be removing snow on Klamath Avenue. Motorists are asked to proceed with caution; flaggers will be directing traffic.
Posted 8:40 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 -- Only some buildings at OIT will be closed today, according to a press release. Boivin, Cornett, Owens and Semon halls are all closed to facilitate removal of snow from each building's roof. Classes in other buildings are anticipated to continue without interruption. Campus dining is anticipated to be functional throughout the day. Employees not housed in any of the four closed buildings should report for work.
Posted 8:28 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 -- The Oregon Institute of Technology campus will be closed all day today due to excess roof snow loads, according to officials in the president's office.
Posted 6:38 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 -- National Weather Service officials are predicting a 40 percent chance of snow showers today, with a possible accumulation of less than half an inch of snow. The high will reach 34.
Chiloquin Jr. and Sr. High Schools, and Henley High School will be closed today for continued snow removal from the roofs. Mazama and EagleRidge are also closed. All other city and county schools will run at their regular schedules.
Road closures:
-Highway 62 between mileposts 44 and 84
-Highway 230's intersection with Highway 62
-Highway 140 between mileposts 28 and 65 near Adel
Chain requirements:
-Highway 66 between mileposts 9 and 44
-Highway 138 between mileposts 83 and 93 (towing vehicles and vehicles over 10,000 GVW only)
-Numerous spots on Highway 62
Oregon Department of Transportation officials have reported spots of black ice on Highway 140 toward Medford. Motorists are advised to proceed with caution.
Posted 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6 -- The following schools will be closed Thursday for continued snow removal operations: Henley, Mazama, Chiloquin and EagleRidge high schools. All other city and county schools are open Thursday, including Chiloquin Elementary School.
Posted 2:56 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6 --National Weather Service officials are predicting a 70 percent chance of rain tonight and tomorrow. Tomorrow's high will reach 44, with a high nearly reaching 50 on Saturday. A chance of rain is predicted again for Saturday night and Sunday.
Posted 2:56 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6 --County emergency officials are asking Basin residents to remove snow from their roofs. This week's forecast of rainfall could add to the weight of the snow pack, increasing the risk of structural damage.
Posted 2:48 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6 --Highway 230's intersection with Crater Lake Highway is set for a tentative reopen tomorrow. Downed trees need to be cleared from that section before it will reopen.
Snow pack is reportedly breaking up in Lakeveiw, along Highway 140, according to ODOT. Mileposts 28-65 near the Nevada border are still closed due to snow drifts.
Posted 12:15 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6 -- EagleRidge High School closed at noon today and will remain closed Thursday so snow can be removed from the building's roof. -- The Mazama girls' basketball game scheduled today will be played at Eagle Point instead of Mazama while snow is removed from Mazama's roof. -- The Klamath Union/Mazama girls' basketball team will have a make-up game Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Mazama High School.
Posted 11:36 a.m.. Wednesday, Feb. 6 --Oregon 138E is set to reopen at noon today. The opened stretch goes from Diamond Lake to US97. Chain restrictions for the road are still in effect.
Still closed:
Highway 230
Highway 62 at Prospect near Crater Lake Park entrance
Posted 8:55 a.m.. Wednesday, Feb. 6 -- All religious education classes for adults, children and youth will be canceled today due to snow removal from the Religious Education Center. Ash Wednesday Masses at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. are still on schedule as is the Distribution of Ashes and Prayer Service in the Church at 12:15 p.m. Sacred Heart Catholic Church is at 815 High St.
Posted 8:49 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6 -- Road closures still in effect: Highway 260, 10 miles east of Highway 199 near Grants Pass; Highway 62 between mileposts 44 and 84; Highway 138's intersection with Highway 97; Highway 230's intersection with Crater Lake Highway; Highway 140 near Adel at the Nevada border.
There is a 40 percent chance of snow today and tomorrow, dropping to a 30 percent chance both nights. Today's high is expected to be 33 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Chains are still required at: Highway 140 toward Medford between mileposts 25 and 41. (for towing vehicles and vehicles over 10,000 GVW only). Highway 66 between mileposts 9 and 44 toward Ashland. Highway 273 up to Mt. Ashland.
Posted 11 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 -- Despite a series of storms that dumped more than 2 feet of snow around the Klamath Basin, this winter isn’t as snowy as it was in 1992-93 and 1995-96 — yet.
Weather observers at Kingsley Field reported 30 inches on the ground in December and January. So far this month, observers recorded about 10 inches of snow. The snowfall in December and January of 1995-96 was about 51 inches. In the same months in 1992-93 snowfall accumulation was nearly 68 inches, more than double what was reported this year.
Posted 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 -- The following Klamath County schools will be closed Wednesday for snow removal: Henley High School, Ferguson, Stearns, Fairhaven, Altamont, Brixner and all Chiloquin schools. In the city district, Ponderosa Junior High, Mazama High and Conger Elementary schools will be closed Wednesday.
Posted 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 -- Ponderosa Junior High, Mazama High and Conger Elementary schools will be closed Wednesday for continued snow removal. All other Klamath Falls City Schools will be open.
Posted 3:40 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 -- The Sky Lakes Outpatient Physical Rehabilitation Center at Washburn and Crosby has been closed and evacuated as a precaution as snow is removed from the roof. The center is in the middle of the building. Other offices remain open. The building is expected to open on schedule on Wednesday.
Posted 1:50 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 -- The Mazama High School girls' junior varsity and varsity basketball games scheduled tonight have been canceled because snow removal is still ongoing at the high school. The games at Klamath Union will be played as scheduled. -- The Department of Human Services building will remain closed Wednesday.
Posted 11:42 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 -- The DHS building in downtown Klamath Falls is closed for the remainder of the day. Posted at 11:28 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 -- Conger Elementary School in the Klamath Falls City School District will close today at noon to allow for the removal of snow from the roof. School buses will run at noon for Conger Elementary only. All parents are being notified.
Posted at 10:45 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 -- Klamath County School District Superintendent Greg Thede said roofs at Henley High School have not collapsed. His statement was in response to concerned parents who called the Herald and News saying students used cell phones to call and tell them they were evacuated to the gym and hallway roofs were caving in. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m.
Posted 10:15 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 -- Basin Transit Service buses are in operation today. Bus routes are currently 10 minutes late, according to Transit officials.
Moyina Heights, Daggett Street, Almond Street, Moore Park, Springcrest Way, Third Street, Sky Lakes Medical Center, O.I.T. and KCC will not receive regular buses today due to slippery conditions.
To find the nearest operating bus stop, contact 883-2877
Posted 10:15 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 -- All Henley Schools will close at 11:30 a.m. today due to snow load issues on roofs.
Posted 9:32 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 --City planning, parks, public works, engineering, and human resources departments will re-open today at noon after closure yesterday due to unsafe roof snow load. All other departments will re-open tomorrow at 8 a.m.
Posted 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 --Ferguson, Shasta, Peterson, Stearns, Keno and Fairhaven schools are closed today for snow removal. All other county schools are open.
Mazama High School and Ponderosa Junior High School will also be closed today. All other city schools are open.
Road closures in effect:
Highway 62 between mileposts 44-66, 24 miles north of Shady Cove
Highway 62, between mileposts 66 and 84, 25 miles south of Fort Klamath. Road through Crater Lake National Park is closed.
Highway 230's intersection with Highway 62, between mileposts 0-23.
Highway 138 between mileposts 79-100, seven miles west of North Umpqua Highway intersection.
Highway 138 at US97 intersection.
Highway 140 near the Nevada border at Adel.
Chains still required at:
Highway 140 between mileposts 21 and 41 toward Medford (towing or over 10,000 GVW only)
Highway 62 between mileposts 45 and 65 (towing or over 10,000 GVW only)
Highway 138 between mileposts 83 and 100 (towing or over 10,000 GVW only)
Highway 230 between mileposts 0 and 24 (towing or over 10,000 GVW only)
Highway 66 between mileposts 9 and 44 toward Ashland (traction tires allowed in place of chains on vehicles under 10,000 GVW
Data courtesy of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Posted 8:15 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4 -- Ponderosa Junior High School will be closed Tuesday so workers can remove snow from its roof. School closures for Tuesday so far include: Shasta, Ferguson, Stearns, Keno, Fairhaven and Peterson elementaries and Mazama High School.
Posted 8:10 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4 -- Klamath County fire officials are encouraging residents to watch for signs of excess snow load on their homes. Bowing ceilings, flickering lights, doors that are difficult to open and cracked windows are all warnings that should taken seriously, according to Scott Rice, fire marshal with Klamath County Fire District No. 1. "All those are good signs that there's something going on," Rice said. "You need to pay attention to that."
Posted 6:45 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4 -- Ferguson, Stearns, Shasta, Fairhaven, Keno and Peterson elementaries will be closed Tuesday so workers can remove rooftop snow, according to Klamath County School District Superintendent Greg Thede.
Posted 4 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4 -- Mazama High School will be closed Tuesday to allow the Klamath Falls City School District to remove snow and check all of the structural beams in the building. All athletic events planned for Tuesday at the school will occur as scheduled. Pelican Elementary School, which had an early release today, will have a regular scheduled day on Tuesday.
Posted 2:47 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4 --As a result of unsafe snow load, Klamath Falls city planning, parks, public works, engineering, finance, human resources, and utility building have been closed, according to city officials.
Planning, parks, public works, engineering, and human resources will re-open tomorrow at noon. All other departments will re-open Feb. 6 at 8 a.m.
Girls' Basketball games at Henley and Mazama high schools scheduled for tonight are postponed. Check out Tuesday's sports section for a complete list of postponed and rescheduled games.
Posted 2:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4 --Highway 62 between mileposts 63 and 91, 28 miles south of Fort Klamath, has been reopened, according to ODOT officials.
Posted 12:37 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4 -- Crews will be removing snow from the Safeway on Pine Street. The grocery store was evacuated this morning because of a threat of the roof collapsing. The roof remains intact.
Posted 12:05 p.m. -- Mazama High School will be dismissed at 12:15 p.m. to allow the district to inspect the roof of the school and remove all snow from it. The building is safe, said Klamath Falls City Schools Superintendent Cecelia Amuchastegui.
“It’s just a preventative measure,” she said.
Engineers felt it would be safer for students and staff to be out of the building during the snow removal.
Posted 10:30 a.m. -- Pelican Elementary School is closing at noon today so workers can remove snow on the roof. The building is safe, but engineers feel it is best to have all students and staff out the building prior to removal, according to a press release from Klamath Falls City Schools. School buses will run at noon for Pelican students only.
Posted 9:45 a.m. -- Preliminary reports indicated the Safeway store downtown was being evacuated because of concern about roof collapse due to heavy snow.
Posted 8:54 a.m., Monday, Feb. 4 -- Klamath County Fire District 1 crews responded to a 7 a.m. call this morning that a center portion of downtown's Egyptian Plaza building had collapsed.
Gas, water and power crews were also dispatched to the scene to secure the safety of utility lines.
Main Street and a portion of Broad Street are currently blocked off until fire and utility crews have secured the scene.
Comment(s)
Posted 7:13 a.m., Monday, Feb. 4 Klamath County and City of Klamath Falls school districts are open and will run classes as regularly scheduled.
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Reader Comments
THATSFUNNY!!! wrote on Feb 8, 2008 7:43 AM:
I shovel my side walks and the side walks on both sides of my house because the people are old and need help so the get help.
Do I then need to the turn my worn out shovel to the city streets? I PAY TAXES and that money PAYS for those things to get DONE.
Look, I can be fined for not keeping my lawn mowed, weeds pulled, sidewalks shoveled. How is it justifiable for me, a tax payer to be treated this way and then have the city and county road departments totally drop the ball on snow removal..causing dozens of accidents..road clousers..clousers of city offices....and who is going to fine them? My tax dollars are being abused by these clowns and until people call foul and do something about it..they will continue to abuse my and your money and it will fund some other clowns wages to inspect your lawn to see if it is over 8" tall. For anyone who does not see these things as REAL PROBLEMS then I wonder how the wether is in cotton candy land were you must live. "
Angel wrote on Feb 7, 2008 8:58 PM:
Angel wrote on Feb 7, 2008 8:51 PM:
Pam wrote on Feb 7, 2008 6:45 PM:
Thank you!!!! "
idaho too wrote on Feb 7, 2008 6:26 PM:
Glad your paying attention to what idaho people say, and do. Wish the rest of the people in K-Falls would do that. The only thing you were wrong about in your last comment was that it sucks in IDAHO. To me, it sounds like you are a Government man. Remember what we do to G-men in this state? I just have one question for you. What do you think the local (practical thinking) people from your community think about you. "
JC wrote on Feb 7, 2008 4:53 PM:
SM wrote on Feb 7, 2008 3:17 PM:
Idaho wrote on Feb 7, 2008 2:40 PM:
RUKIDDING wrote on Feb 7, 2008 8:20 AM:
This goes for all of our county and city offices...If you dont care what you get for your tax dollars..they sure wont.
It's time to hold some folk accountable. If you dont..dont expect change. "
jaa wrote on Feb 7, 2008 7:50 AM:
It should go without saying that any city owned vehicle capable of plowing shall
not operate without engaging the plow.
I mean ... were buying the fuel
and city services .
does anyone know exactly who may be
contacted ...? "
pril wrote on Feb 7, 2008 5:16 AM:
Angel wrote on Feb 6, 2008 8:33 PM:
Angel wrote on Feb 6, 2008 5:31 PM:
Angel wrote on Feb 6, 2008 5:15 PM:
outraged wrote on Feb 6, 2008 9:25 AM:
The issue as they say, is with the lack of planning to deal with the amount of snow.
The H&N has reported that this has happened before (snow amounts) so for those who plan, this should have been a real consideration and a plan developed to effectively deal with it.
Our roads are a rutted disasted and the road departments are to blame.
I think it is understandable for a tax payer to be totally disgusted with the situation and demand accoutability.
Effective snow removal cannot happen with vehicles parked on the sides of most of our city streets. How do you solve the problem? ban parking on those streets period.
As it is now with vehicles parked on the sides of the streets even when there is no snow..it would be difficult if not impossable for a fire or emergency vehicle to pass through.
Who would be to blame if the fire truck could not reach the fire? Could you just write it off the "weather"? NO.
Tax payers will never get their monies worth as long as they accept the shotty performance of those in charge. "
Blanche wrote on Feb 6, 2008 8:39 AM:
Perhaps TP would be so kind as to share their Master Plan as to how this could have been handled better.
To me, waiting until it snows, calling in all available personnel and equipment and then putting both to the work seems like a pretty good plan.
Hint to Taxpayer: More ideas, less crying.
Thoughtfully yours,
Blanche
"
tax payer wrote on Feb 5, 2008 3:34 PM:
The PROBLEM is the lack of planning or maybe it should be called an "emergancy reaction plan for server snow fall"
I have seen lots of people working their tails off and being paid a kings ransom for theeir efforts.
The folks directing the effort should be drawn and quartered. "
city worker wrote on Feb 5, 2008 2:04 PM:
being demanding doenst help these days. "I want my street plowed NOW. I wasn't nice about either...."
remember..what goes around will come around.
we are all in your same situation. we all pay taxes. being mad doesnt help either.
they will come and clear your street sooner or later.
thanks.
-your city worker. aka the guy whos plowing all of your roads.
ps. thank you for all of the people who understand out there. "
Pam wrote on Feb 5, 2008 11:43 AM:
and when the snow plows showed up around 1:00p.m. they plowed the roads and then cleared our driveways. I must say, I was completely floored. So ... if your driveways are blocked, try to get out there and ask them to clear it. They will, we didn't even have to ask. The driver saw that there was about 35 people out and he said he'd come back to clear our driveways.
I was so mad that my street wasn't being cared for but, I called and as the saying goes "The squeeky wheel gets the grease". "
driveway snow shoveler wrote on Feb 5, 2008 10:39 AM:
Thanks "
TOOFUNNY wrote on Feb 5, 2008 9:57 AM:
Picture that...An office full of city engineers that has to close because the roof might fail... HELLO..Your ENGINEERS...At what point did it click in your engineer brain that it's snowing and that snow = weight, too much weight..NO GOOD?
Another bright spot in our city offices.. "
Trisha wrote on Feb 5, 2008 6:54 AM:
tickets wrote on Feb 4, 2008 3:54 PM:
Madriver wrote on Feb 4, 2008 3:05 PM:
taxpayer wrote on Feb 4, 2008 1:48 PM:
Yup ,we have a bunch of snow, more than normal and plans should have been made for the several diffrent types of winters that we can have here, but alas..NO This disgusting display of planning exposes those in charge for what they are..OR should be..UNEMPLOYEED!
So, Jump off your self appointed moral high ground and snap into reality.. "
Blanche wrote on Feb 4, 2008 1:26 PM:
Kaysee D. wrote on Feb 4, 2008 12:18 PM:
Kristi wrote on Feb 4, 2008 11:30 AM:
taxpayer wrote on Feb 4, 2008 7:28 AM:
I pay my taxes...it's the job of the city ,county road depts to plow the roads using those dollars.
Yup, I will sit in my warm house and complain... as long as I am not getting what my tax dollars pay for.
I wonder what the budget for snow removal WAS vs what it is really going to cost.
I think we all know that the people doing the plowing are working hard and are making tons of money in the process.
To this point I have not heard of anyone being forced into a truck at gun point.
As mentioned SEVERAL times...It's the total LACK of planning that has most people upset.
Those who have the job of planning should be replaced. I cant think of any other job where a person could perform so poorly and keep thier job. Shameful. "
pril wrote on Feb 4, 2008 5:47 AM:
KMHS wrote on Feb 3, 2008 8:33 PM:
joyce wrote on Feb 3, 2008 7:15 PM:
Lyn wrote on Feb 3, 2008 4:50 PM:
OIT Student wrote on Feb 3, 2008 4:44 PM:
Rosemary wrote on Feb 3, 2008 4:15 PM:
JPD wrote on Feb 3, 2008 1:51 PM:
B wrote on Feb 3, 2008 12:23 PM:
JD wrote on Feb 3, 2008 8:00 AM:
herschel wrote on Feb 2, 2008 10:22 PM:
WOW wrote on Feb 2, 2008 7:41 PM:
"
Me wrote on Feb 2, 2008 5:49 PM:
jm wrote on Feb 2, 2008 2:52 PM:
plowing right to the driveways of senor
and disabled,if the older generation have
any problems ,how can use our cars,
some of us are on medication,and snow
cleanup is not easy job. cannot get out.
"
Anonymous wrote on Feb 2, 2008 1:28 PM:
I would like people to know that there are a handful of workers keeping the campus clear of snow and have been working throughout the night and have to continue working through the day because the administration refuses to let them go home. This is a money issue. Keeping the campus open is also a money issue. While the administration should be held accountable for putting the students' lives in danger, please be grateful for the hard work the workers are doing at the same time. "
John wrote on Feb 2, 2008 11:57 AM:
Good timing with folks waiting on checks the 1st. "
kmhs wrote on Feb 2, 2008 6:33 AM:
Ted wrote on Feb 1, 2008 10:38 PM:
SERIOUSLY PEOPLE wrote on Feb 1, 2008 8:49 PM:
BUT THANK YOU H&N FOR PUTTING UP ALL OF THESE UPDATES. IM ON THE WEBSITE MORE THEN EVER. "
Anonymous wrote on Feb 1, 2008 4:17 PM:
stuckathomeduetothesnow wrote on Feb 1, 2008 3:48 PM:
P.S. Thanks to the people behind the steering wheel. Drop the blade once-in-awhile, it will make people think you are working. "
PAID wrote on Feb 1, 2008 3:10 PM:
What you need to think about is the amount of overtime pay, time and a half, dbl time pay that they are pulling in. Yeah, thier laughing all the way to the bank because the city and county refuse to remember that 5 month of the year we have winter and that plans require looking at the worst that could happen..not playing the game of "I think we will have a mild winter" so lets not budget for a bad winter..lets put the funds someplace else and hope for a mild winter and then try to find the funds when it's too late.
Yeah, I dont feel sorry for a person who agrees to do a job at an agreed wage and then has to do it....IT'S CALLED A JOB AND IF THEY DONT WANT TO DO IT, YOU CAN BET THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF UNEMPLOYEED FOLKS THAT WOULD LOVE THE JOB AND BE THANKFUL TO HAVE IT! "
Thanks wrote on Feb 1, 2008 2:26 PM:
It isn't the men and women in the snowplows fault that the city was unprepared. They are working long hours with little thanks.
If it weren't for them, we'd all be stuck at home.
"
Displeased wrote on Feb 1, 2008 1:21 PM:
whoshouldbereading wrote on Feb 1, 2008 9:28 AM:
My gut feeling is that they could care less and are counting money and talking about increasing taxes because they have been caught with their pants down. "
Kevin wrote on Jan 31, 2008 4:11 PM:
anonamous wrote on Jan 31, 2008 4:08 PM:
B.E. wrote on Jan 31, 2008 3:49 PM:
Mindy wrote on Jan 31, 2008 2:03 PM:
Nikola V. wrote on Jan 31, 2008 12:38 PM:
"
snow removal wrote on Jan 31, 2008 12:28 PM:
If they spent more time doing rather than telling others what to do.. everyone would be better off. "
Runoff wrote on Jan 31, 2008 11:15 AM:
Caught wrote on Jan 31, 2008 9:20 AM:
YOU PLAN FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST, NOT PLAN FOR THE BEST AND HOPE FOR THE WORST.
Someone will be hurt or killed and you can bet that a factor in that will be the lack of snow removal or that the City or county snow removal crews put snow in a location that did not allow a driver to safely cross a road and their view of traffic was obstructed by your snow pile. This will more than likley result in a law suit. "
Editor wrote on Jan 31, 2008 8:46 AM:





Angel wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:49 AM: