May 22, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Pennsylvania's groundhog, Punxutawney Phil, saw his shadow Thursday, predicting six more weeks of winter.
But, a groundhog in East Tennessee disagrees. Chattanooga Chuck didn't see his shadow, and said it will be an early Spring.
Either way, there are some pros and cons to not having a typical Winter.
Next time you're outside on a sunny day, just take a minute and listen. Not only does it look and feel like Spring to us, but to the birds as well.
Lilita Smith spent Thursday afternoon enjoying the outdoor, and she said, "This is usually the time when we hate to get out of the bed."
Lilita is more productive because of the warmer Winter we've had.
She is not alone. More people are heading outside taking advantage of the sunny days and the above normal temperatures.
Lacresha Dye said, "We're taking advantage of it today, when it's so beautiful. We were excited that the weather was this way so we decided to come outside."
More people are walking around areas like Market Square, and stopping into the local businesses.
Mark Titus is the Director of Operations for Latitude 35, a restaurant on the square. "It's been fabulous, because obviously our restaurant, along with Market Square, is just a weather driven venue."
It apparently can also inspire and even give courage some. A couple looked so happy to be sitting outside. "Michael showed up at my work, out of the clear blue, and asked me to marry him. So, I was a little shocked and very, very happy, and so we took advantage of this wonderful day to have lunch and come and celebrate a little bit," described Deidra.
But a problem for some, not as many people are in parts of the mountains, at least not at Ober Gatlinburg.
The rain and warmer days keep workers from even making snow, so they really need temperatures to drop, and, of course, would love see some flakes fall.
But, the lack of snow helps road maintenance departments.
Jim Snowden, Knox County Engineering and Public Works, said, "We don't have to spend as much tax dollars in salt, overtime, vehicle expense and maintenance and fuel."
When you look at their stock of salt brine, they use to treat roads, only one bin even has a dent put in it this year. Snowden said, "Last Winter, by this time, we had used all three salt bins."
And all the tax dollars saved are adding up, "That's essentially $150,000 we can hopefully put for maintenance in the Spring," said Snowden.
So which groundhog do you want to be right? It depends on your perspective, and whether you think this Winter has been good or bad.
Lacresha said, "I do not want Winter, I'm not sad that we haven't seen snow at all."
Michael said, "I love to ski, normally I'm all about skiing."
So far this winter, East Tennessee is down 3.5 inches of snow, at the official reading site for the region, McGhee Tyson Airport.
