Remembering 'Snowmageddon'—Just One Year Ago

This week's mild temperatures (Can you believe it was in the 60s on Tuesday?) might be, for most, a welcome reprieve from the area's generally bitter winters.

But just one year ago, the Tri-Cities and most the Chicago area were hit with a massive snowstorm that left more than a —St. Charles got 20 inches of snow, according to one count—and drove normal, everyday activity to a halt.

• St. Charles: 20 inches (Reported 9 a.m. Feb. 2, 2011)
• Batavia: 15 inches (Reported 8:13 a.m. Feb. 2, 2011)
• Geneva: 12 inches (Reported 2:30 a.m. Feb. 2, 2011)

*Figures reported at the time to the National Weather Service.

This time also is the one-year anniversary of the death of a well-loved  worker, whose last efforts were to plow the snow.

, was a 14-year employee with KDOT. He had just returned from plowing roads on Feb. 2, 2011, and was refilling his truck with salt when he collapsed.  reportedly had developed a heart condition two years earlier.

The snow event of 2011 didn't stack up to some of the previous blizzards in Geneva, like 1979 and 1967. You can recap .

And, of course, you can read more about how to help make the best of the snow day.

The blizzard of 2011 was big news, of course, big enough to make our from last year. Enjoy this cool, slipperty trip down memory lane ... then go outside and hit some golf balls.