Area schools close Tuesday afternoon
Webster City and surrounding areas brace for blizzard-like conditions todayby Carrie Olson, Daily Freeman-Journal Staff Writer
Article Photos
As the snow steadily fell and talks of blizzard conditions start to mount, local agencies and businesses braced for the first big storm of the winter weather.
Superintendent Mike Sherwood had a busy schedule yesterday, planning with other school officials for the days ahead. Classes at Webster City schools, St. Thomas Aquinas and Stratford schools were released at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Sherwood said decisions would have to be made about the coming days.
"We take a look at the forecast, track radar and contact other area districts," he said. "Ted Larson, Webster City and Stratford Schools transportation director, stays in close contact with county crews, checking schedules and visiting with them."
"We sit down and meet frequently to discuss possible school closings and delays," Sherwood continued. "We try to make the decisions the night before, as much as we possibly can. But if we can't make a decision that night, we start the process at 5 a.m. and try to make the decision as early as possible, but no later than 6:30 a.m."
On making a decision for today and Thursday, Sherwood said, "If we get 12 inches of snow and the winds they are talking about, Wednesday and Thursday will be difficult. Ultimately we want the kids to be safe. But if we make an error, we want to make the error on the side of safety."
Kendall Young Library will postpone its library board meeting until Thursday night. Library Director Cynthia Weiss said, "The library will be closed Wednesday and we will have to evaluate the library's hours as the week progresses."
Hamilton County Public Health canceled its H1N1 clinic for Wednesday, but it is rescheduled for 9 a.m. until noon on Friday. Dawn Trujillo, a nurse with Hamilton County Public Health said, "It is not worth it for people to be out and about in this kind of weather."
An emergency snow ordinance was declared for this morning beginning at 6 a.m. All vehicles are required to be off of the city's streets by 8 a.m. Officials said parking would not be allowed on any residential street until both sides of the street had been plowed.
Contact Carrie Olson at lifestyles@freemanjournal.net or call 832-4350.
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USECOMMONSENSE
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12-13-09 3:21 PM
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Is this the last update since Tues ? WOW No wonder these papers are loosing readers ...
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comment8er
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12-09-09 8:39 AM
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This "Global Warming" phenomenon is killing me.
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