If the snow falling was not the sign you were looking for, your first sight of kids racing down a hill in a tube may finally make it feel like winter. Kewaunee County officially announced on Wednesday that its tube hill at Winter Park in Kewaunee would open this week, almost three weeks later than it usually does. The mild and dry start to winter has left county employees still working on preparing the ski hill and the ice rink for visitors. The weather forecast spells good things for their efforts, with more than a foot of snow falling before arctic temperatures enter the area next week. Without Mother Nature's assistance, Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Director Dave Myers said earlier this month that it is tough sledding to get the hills ready.

Myers says to check their website and social media pages for updates on specific hours of operation once they do open. Snowmobilers will likely have to wait out this weekend’s expected snowstorm to see if they can hit the trails for the first time this year. Currently, trails in Marquette, Iowa, and Grant counties are the only ones that are at least partially open for snowmobiling.