CUMBERLAND – Cumberland's supervisor of streets said at 11:30 a.m. Monday that snow removal in the Queen City of the Alleghenies was 85 percent complete.

"We brought our first crew in here at 10 p.m. Friday and have been working around the clock since then," said Brooke Cassell.

Five-ton and 1-ton dump trucks with plows numbered as high as 10 at any one time on the often difficult streets of the hilly city. The smaller trucks are used on narrow and crowded streets such as Waverly Terrace.

If there are 10 trucks out, that means there are 20 people working, according to Cassell.

Monday morning, seven trucks were scattered throughout the city, pushing snow off the streets and clearing curbside parking spots where automobiles have been moved following the epic weekend snowstorm that dropped almost 15 inches in town.

"Our people have done a wonderful job," Cassell said. "There have been no accidents."

Crews worked 16-hour shifts and then were off for eight hours before returning. "It's hard on them. After they get done with their jobs they go home and have to shovel out their own families," Cassell said.

With one eye on the weather forecast that is calling for rain and/or freezing rain on Christmas day, Cassell said she believes the current snow moving effort will stretch into Tuesday before plows are put away.

City-owned sidewalks were also being shoveled Monday, such as the walkways across the McMullen Bridge spanning the railroad tracks on Bedford and Frederick streets. Cassell said the Parks and Recreation Department handles sidewalks at locations such as the George Washington Headquarters Park on Greene Street.

In Frostburg, Street Superintendent Mike Troutman said the city's streets are clear and bare.

"Right now we are going back and plowing areas where cars have been moved and areas where people with snowblowers threw snow back into the streets," Troutman said Monday at 12:30 p.m.

Sgt. George Kroll confirmed Monday that it is a municipal infraction to throw or blow snow onto Frostburg streets and penalties are possible.

Troutman is asking city residents to clear snow from fire hydrants in their neighborhoods.

In Ridgeley, W.Va., snow cleanup was winding down at noon Monday, according to a spokeswoman there, who said no major complaints had been received from residents.

The town has two trucks used for snow removal, but one went out of service sometime during the weekend.

Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.