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Ice, Slush & Meltwater Making A Mess Of Minneapolis Sidewalks

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Amid the water, ice is still a nuisance around the Twin Cities -- especially on side streets, in alleyways and on private residence sidewalks.

Minnesotans are working hard to conquer some serious obstacles.

The onset of spring has a downside, and it can be a slippery one -- a really slippery one.

Brandon Day of Uptown Minneapolis and his dog Ross used the penguin technique to stay vertical.

"The Minnesota shuffle: arms in front of you or by your side so you can catch yourself if you do have to fall," Day said.

Treacherous sidewalks and bumpy alleyways weren't the only perils.

The residents of Birchwood Care Home are on a virtual island. Janie Schultz, a resident, yelled from the distance, "Yeah, an icy island."

The staff used pumps and hoses and a lot of manpower to clear the way for residents with disabilities to get to their transportation.

"We have wheelchairs, walkers. It makes a crisis for us so we just stay on top of it," Birchwood staff member Anthony Wilkins said.

So they'll try and manage the madness -- just like the rest of us.

"I'm done with winter. I'm glad it's almost over. I don't know what we are gonna do with all this rain. It's gonna be really icky," Wilkins added.

Just like Brandon told WCCO, it's a good time to use that penguin walk. It may take a little more time, but not as much time as an emergency department visit would take.

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