Seven separate accidents occurred early today along Interstate 90 near the 11th Street Northeast interchange.

Thursday, December 14, 2000

Seven separate accidents occurred early today along Interstate 90 near the 11th Street Northeast interchange.

Four of the mishaps occurred in the westbound I90 lanes and three occurred in the eastbound I90 lanes.

Details of the mishaps were not available at press-time.

The Mower County Sheriff’s Department assisted the Minnesota State Patrol at the accidents’ scenes, according to County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson.

An overnight ice fog coupled with extreme cold temperatures and a light snow made streets and highways even slicker today.

The city of Austin’s snow emergency ordinance ends today at 6 p.m., according to Police Chief Paul M. Philipp.

With eight inches of new snow since Monday, city crews have tackled streets and encountered several instances of residents who failed to obey the odd-even parking restrictions as well as no parking restriction in designated downtown and other areas.

According to the police chief, when snow emergencies are declared by the city, vehicles will be ticketed in business areas. Typically, according to Philipp, police begin their snow patrols near one a.m. followed by wreckers to tow the vehicles and the city snow plows to clear the streets.

Meanwhile, city snow removal crews routinely drive around illegally parked vehicles during a snow emergency ordinance period.

Unless the vehicles remain parked illegally during the 73 hours period, rarely are tickets written in residential neighborhoods for the illegal parking.

The police chief advised residents to obey the snow emergency ordinance, regarding odd-even parking and the no parking restriction in designated areas.

Theft Investigation

Texaco Food Mart, 709 21st St. NE, reported the theft of money collected for a charity.

A canister holding coins and currency for the Child Watch project was taken from a counter at the convenience store and gas station, according to an Austin Police Department report.

The theft occurred 9:42 p.m. Sunday and police have a suspect.

Another theft was reported by the manager at Mandolin Apartments in west Austin.

Three money orders written to Mandolin Apartments were taken from an office area totaling $900.

Because the money orders were filled-out, both the apartment manager and police believe it will be impossible to cash them without alterations made to the forms.

The thefts occurred sometime between December 1 and 13, according to the police report.