Those working to clean up and make repairs following the ice storm of February 15-16 are continuing to make progress in their efforts.

Dense fog over the weekend hampered some of the efforts but workers continued going about their tasks of getting utilities restored.

National Guard units had assisted county and city workers, fire department, law enforcement and medical workers, but have since returned to their base. Local volunteers continued to fill several roles as needed, from volunteering at emergency shelters to helping out their neighbors.

An emergency shelter located at Lewis County High School closed and county schools reopened on regular schedules Monday.

A boil water advisory remained in effect for customers in the Garrison, Vanceburg and Salt Like areas.

Utility companies reported that power had been restored to nearly all their respective customers and crews were beginning to go back and make permanent repairs where they had earlier made temporary fixes in efforts to get power restored as quickly as possible.

Any resident remaining without electricity should contact their electric provider. A spokesman with Fleming-Mason Energy said some residences had damage to their meter base to masthead and added that damage could not be repaired by the utility company. Persons having such damage should contact a private electrician to arrange for repairs.

Vanceburg Mayor W.T. Cooper said many relief services are available and assistance is also available for those who need help.

An emergency number has been established for those needing assistance from the services based in the city building and for those who need to contact Vanceburg Utilities. That number is 606-796-2784.

That number can also be used to find out where bottled water is available in your area.

Several area fire departments are continuing to assist in efforts to get things returned to normal and provide assistance to their areas.

City employee Rick Holt waves at the camera and smiles while cleaning away trees that fell across the street and onto the house at Spencer Lane and Missionary Drive in Vanceburg.

"While many citizens have offered freely of their time and efforts to assist those in need, it appears that some individuals may be seizing upon this disaster to take advantage of those in need in order to pad their own pockets," he said.

"We have unconfirmed reports of increased prices being charged for hotel rooms, chain saw rentals, generators, firewood and plumbing services," he added.

Chandler said his office is investigating all reports of exorbitant price increases and is taking them very seriously. He said he is also concerned about the "fly by night" contractors or "storm chasers" coming in and taking advantage of people.

He urges consumers to be very cautious when hiring contractors for home or electrical repairs or tree removal. Contractors performing jobs with a contract price of $1,500 or more are required to provide a written contract.

Stone said the accident happened about 4:30 a.m. on Ky. Rt. 10 about a mile east of Tollesboro when a 1989 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck operated by Gwen Sherrill, 38, of Tollesboro, reportedly rolled into the roadway and into the path of a 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage, operated by Danny R. Butler Jr., 32, of Vanceburg.

Stone said Butler was removed from his vehicle by members of the Tollesboro Fire and Rescue squad utilizing the Jaws of Life. He was taken to Meadowview Regional Medical Center in Maysville.

Stone said Sherrill was charged with having no driver's license, no insurance and driving under the influence, and was lodged in the Lewis County Detention Center.

Tollesboro Fire and Rescue workers utilized the Jaws of Life to remove the driver of this vehicle following an accident near Tollesboro Sunday morning.

Deputy Dwayne Stone said a 2000 Sterling 24-foot box truck, operated by Andris C. Stradins, 46, of Horicom, Wisconsin, was northbound on the Grayson Spur of the highway and because of extremely foggy conditions apparently didn't realize he was approaching an intersection.

The rig crossed the AA and struck a rock wall head on. The warning lights were operating at the time of this accident, but because of a power failure there were no warning lights when the earlier accident happened.

Stradins and his passenger, Russell J. Videkovick, 46, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were able to get out of the cab of the truck on their own and were taken to Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, by Portsmouth Ambulance.

Stone said that despite to seriousness of the accident, the two men didn't appear to be extensively injured.

A Vanceburg firefighter examines the cab of this truck following an accident late Friday night. The driver and passenger were injured. Dense fog, evident in the photo, contributed to the cause. The accident was in the same location of an accident a week earlier at the intersection of the AA Highway and Grayson Spur.