Snow forces Tulsa World to cancel Wednesday newspaper

Publisher Robert E. Lorton III said the decision was intended to “make sure our employees and their families remained safe as we all try to deal with this weather.”

The Tulsa World has been publishing since 1905, said Susan Ellerbach, managing editor. The newspaper several years ago did not publish on Christmas Day or New Year's Day, but this is the first time weather has forced the cancellation of an edition, she said.

Ellerbach said foot-deep snow was causing emergency vehicles and other vehicles to get stuck Tuesday and the Tulsa World didn't want to add to the problems by putting 50 haulers and 650 carriers on the streets.

Tulsa World reporters continued to work Tuesday and were making breaking news and information available to readers on their tulsaworld.com website and on iPhone and smart phone applications.

About 15 reporters were able to make it into the Tulsa World newsroom and many others were working from home, Ellerbach said.

“We will continue to keep Tulsa World readers informed through every means possible,” said Joe Worley, executive editor.

Although this is the first time an emergency has forced cancellation of a Tulsa World edition, the newspaper had a close call about eight years ago when a power outage forced the staff to go off site to publish an abbreviated edition, Ellerbach said.