Quiet fog brings terror to roadway

We've all driven in foggy conditions at one time or another, but hopefully won't ever encounter the terror and helplessness that Jim and Doretta Kriecha of St. Charles experienced Sunday.

The Kriechas had spent the weekend in their Arkdale, Wis., cabin and decided to head home early in an attempt to avoid a heavy fog that was forecast.

About halfway home, they ended up in the middle of what Wisconsin highway patrols would call a disaster by late afternoon as up to 100 cars were involved in a pileup on Interstate 90, near Route 12.

"The fog was pea-soup thick," Doretta said. "We saw some headlights and taillights ahead of us and slowed down, but we got hit from behind three times."

Jim, who was not injured, manuevered his Chevy Tahoe to the median, but it did not help him avoid the collisions.

"The most terrifying thing was when the semi truck came barreling through, hitting all of those cars," said Doretta, who was taken to the hospital by ambulance after suffering head bruises and whiplash.

"The sound and the noise was just terrible, and we saw some cars on fire, too," Doretta said.

Doretta said the work of the rescue crews, coming from all over the region, was "the most phenomenal thing and they were just incredible."

It took more than five hours to clear the highway and Doretta felt "it is going to be impossible to figure out who hit who" in the aftermath.

Ugly winter scenes:

It is the ugliest scenario we endure all year. A heavy snow, followed by an unusual burst of winter warmth.

That's what we had in the past week, and the thaw left us with mud, ugly dead grass, piles of leaves that were never picked up and tons of litter hidden by snowdrifts.

On a positive note, here's a tip of the hat to those folks with snowblowers who take the time to do neighbor's walkway or driveway during a big snow. And some even clear the public parkways, making it so much easier for those of us who are walking dogs daily.

Soup and salmon:

I write about food often in this column, but it would be misleading for readers to think I eat out often.

But I did recently get out to rediscover an old haunt.

More than 25 years ago, I went to Houlihan's often because it was a nightclub setup with food and dance.

Today, it tends to have a more upscale feel to it.

I had not been to a Houlihan's in many years, but went to the Geneva Commons location twice in the past two weeks. Lo and behold, I have found a lost friend -- especially some great burgers, baked potato soup and barbecued salmon.

Still not safe:

It figures that, after the state finally institutes a smoking ban in all public places, I get an e-mail from a health institute telling me that the smoke outdoors is just as bad. I've now been warned to steer clear of "smoking patios," which may be the next gathering-place trend for smokers.

dheun@sbcglobal.net