With Winter Storm Stella dropping anywhere from 15 inches in Brodheadsville to 26 inches in Albrightsville, the challenge for homeowners and municipalities is in the cleanup.

RoniSue Ahner, secretary-treasurer in Nesquehoning, said today, "PennDOT did not get some of the roads opened. Route 54 did not get plowed until around 3 p.m. So that was a little bit of a challenge for the borough crew and the police."Nesquehoning had 18.5 inches of snow."With the amount of snowfall it was hard for the drivers to keep up with clearing the streets and people were throwing the snow back into the streets," Ahner said.Today, Nesquehoning crews were focused on getting intersections cleared for view and getting some ice melt/cinders down for ice under the snow.Lansford borough had plow trucks running from the early morning until about 7 p.m. on Tuesday, council President Martin Ditsky said.The borough also got help from state workers in keeping Route 209, the town's snow emergency route, clear of snow.On Wednesday, borough workers will be pushing snow back from intersections, doing cleanup and preparing areas to dump the snow when snow removal begins on Thursday."We got close to 2 feet from what I heard," he said. "There's no place to go with the snow."The south side of Patterson Street was reopened Wednesday morning for much-needed parking, Ditsky said. An outside contractor may be needed to help with cleanup."The first thing we have to do is make sure the narrow streets - Kline and Water - are open for emergency vehicles and fuel deliveries. We just ask for cooperation," Ditsky said.In Palmerton, borough Manager Rodger Danielson said problems were typical with the amount of snow that fell."It's pretty much what every homeowner is experiencing right now," Danielson said.Clearing the snowThe most prevalent issue was trying to clear the streets and alleys."Today, we're trying to clear out the areas we didn't get to yesterday," he said.Danielson said that the frozen-over streets are a concern, so continued plowing and salting were top priorities for today.Mauch Chunk Road is clear. Keeping Princeton Avenue clear is a priority."The fire station is out there so we try to keep that pretty open," Danielson said.Garbage pickup will be delayed by one day for the next few days: Wednesday to Thursday, Thursday to Friday, Friday to Saturday."Everything in Jim Thorpe went smooth," reported Joe Schatz, borough police chief. "Our road crew and PennDOT did a great job keeping the roads open. There were no major issues. We responded to a few disabled vehicles, but as far as everyone getting their cars moved, it's going well."People complied with the borough's travel ban. Vince Yaich and the public works crew are still digging out today.Tuesday Jim Thorpe crews plowed the odd side first because it's an odd year. They are out doing the even side of the streets today.In Lehighton, borough Manager Nicole Beckett said she believes the borough is in good shape for the amount of snow that fell."The borough is fortunate to be able to have the manpower and equipment (that it does)," Beckett said. "The Public Works Department should definitely be commended for keeping the roads safe and open, and for the long hours they put in."Getting outOutside, Aliyah Nothstein, 9, of Lehighton, was busy shoveling snow out of a truck as she fearlessly stood on top of it."Shoveling a truck is fun," Aliyah said. "I like being outdoors and having fun, and having a break."Her sister, Makayla Nothstein, agreed."Instead of staying indoors, people should go outside and enjoy the weather," said Makayla, 14. "I'm enjoying the time with my sisters."Kyle Yourth said he and several others were busy shoveling their vehicles out."We shoveled on and off all day," Yourth said. "We kept with it all day."In Franklin Township, roadmaster/Supervisor Robby Cressley said the storm has kept the municipality busy."It was a long snow, very heavy snow, a lot of snow," Cressley said. "We're still going at it yet."However, Cressley said there were no real incidents."Most of the people were smart enough not to be on the road," he said. "I spoke with the other two supervisors, and they thought we did a terrific job."Cressley noted the township has an ordinance prohibiting residents from throwing snow in the roadway.In Tamaqua, borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said, "The biggest challenge was just the quantity of snow that we got in such a short time. I'd have to say that's the biggest challenge.""It was hard to stay ahead of the storm until the storm started to taper off," Steigerwalt said. "It was coming down so quickly, it's hard to stay on top of it."Steigerwalt said the borough didn't have any major equipment breakdowns, didn't have any staffing or scheduling problems and had plenty of salt and antiskid material."I think it went as well as it could have," he said. "Just the quantity of snowfall we got was the biggest issue. After the storm, there was blowing and drifting that creates problems keeping the roads open."Steigerwalt said it's equally important for residents to cooperate during a storm."There's a lot of snow out there, but it would help a great deal if people didn't throw it on the street," he said. "It just doesn't disappear. It's going to lay there, potentially freeze, get packed down. It's going to make travel difficult for you and your neighbors. Try to find a place on a sidewalk, vacant lot, your yard, or somewhere to put it."Removal continuesSteigerwalt said residents should take care of their sidewalks to help the postal workers deliver mail, and emergency services in case of an emergency."We also ask people to clean around hydrants and storm drains, especially the hydrants because this is fire season, and it would help the firetrucks a great deal if that's open," he said.Weatherly's plow drivers worked 12-hour shifts through the storm, but there is still excess snow to be removed, Mayor Tom Connors said."Our guys were out constantly doing the best that they can, but like all the other towns, we will still have another full day before things are back in order.Connors said the next step is to remove snow, which could take up to a week. It will be trucked to a park in the borough or the former Tung-Sol property.Connors credited a resident who volunteered and cleared the 3-foot buffer around several hydrants in town.He said several other residents also helped with hydrants."You never know when a fire is going to happen," he said.Amy Miller, Terry Ahner, Chris Reber and Brian Myszkowski contributed to this report.