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Winter storm closes schools, offices

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By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County residents, as did the rest of the state, had plenty of warning before this week’s winter storm moved through the area, and for the most part, there were fewer problems than during the 2021 “deep freeze” that occurred at almost exactly the same time of the year.

There was also a winter storm in early February 2022, very similar to this year’s event.

Freezing rain started on Monday, causing school officials to dismiss classes early at 1:00 p.m. to avoid problems. There was no school at all on Tuesday and Wednesday, and extracurricular events were rescheduled, although Albany’s high school basketball teams were already off on Tuesday because of a district bye.

The storm caused the junior high basketball schedule to end unexpectedly. The final Monday night games of the season were first re-set for Thursday, but ended up cancelled altogether when other high schools in the area had to play their Tuesday games tonight.

A number of local businesses and offices also closed for a couple of days, including the Courthouse, Appraisal District, health clinics, and pharmacy.

A thin sheet of ice coated streets and highways on Tuesday, with freezing conditions continuing with snow on Wednesday before warming up on Thursday, with a 40 percent chance of rain.

TxDOT employees began “salting and sanding” highways at least two days prior to the storm, and continued to do so around the clock until temperatures climbed above freezing.

Even though traffic was less than usual, more people ventured out than should have during the early part of the week, with several accidents reported that were the direct result of drivers losing control due to road conditions, according to deputy Jason Price with the Shackelford County sheriff’s department, including several rollovers.

“The roads are deceiving,” said Price. “I’m sitting here looking down at 351, and it looks slushy, but it’s solid ice when you get out and run your boot across it.”

Price had passed three cars in the ditch on his way to a roll-over, and had already recorded a half dozen accidents by about 1:30 p.m.

“These are definitely drive-at-your-own risk conditions, and we don’t ever recommend getting out unless you have to,” he said. “And please don’t drive at regular highway speeds, like these three people coming at me right now.”

There had been no serious injuries reported as of Tuesday afternoon.

Albany city manager Billy Holson at press time that city crews had not yet been called out to repair broken water lines, but that would probably happen when the ground started thawing out and shifting.

Classrooms were empty for two days in both Albany and Moran, and school officials will need to reassess the situation when they’re back in the office.

“We have minutes banked, but we’re not sure what it will look like when this is all over,” said Albany ISD superintendent Jonathan Scott. “We also have two bad weather days built in the calendar.”

Dr. John Denson, superintendent at Moran, said that MISD also has minutes banked, but he doesn’t expect to use them.

“Since we are on a four day week, it is possible to use a Friday here and there if we need to make up a day or two,” he said. “We will not add days at the end of the calendar.”