By Jeff Kenney, Citizen editor
In the course of a few weeks, Culver and Union Township have seen startlingly high temperatures (at times in the 50s), bitterly low temperatures, heavy snowfall, dense fog, torrential rain and thunderstorms, and flooding.
The widely-publicized flooding that devastated so much of Marshall County in January may not have affected Culver in many noticable ways, but last week's flooding — part of several weeks of unusual and oddly varied weather in the area — had more of a local impact.

Flooding on the Yellow River in Plymouth was less catastrophic over the week of Feb. 4 than it had been in January, but flooding — prompted by melting snow and falling rain on largely frozen ground — was far more visible in the fields and on the backroads of the county in general and the area immeditely surrounding Culver.
Water lapped at both sides of a number of rural byways in Union Township, and the level of Lake Maxinkuckee had risen visibly, submerging normally visible rocks and other objects along the shoreline. Even more roads were closed or partially obscured by water during the past week near Culver than had been in January as well. Yards and virtually any natural surface that could hold water were filled.  
The weather impacted local schools as well, causing Culver schools to close on Feb. 1 due to several inches of early morning snow (though the area managed to avoid the additional inches predicted, which hit north of Marshall County), and prompting school officials to delay school for two hours each morning during the week of Feb. 4.

Thick fog on Monday blanketed the area and reduced visibility to a handful of feet, worsening as evening approached.
Heavily flooded roads in all directions caused safety concerns all week, with school delays allowing bus drivers and parents the benefit of daylight when transporting students over water-covered roads.