UPDATED: School, other closings extended after the snow
Snow clearing in the Tabor City IGA parking lot Monday morning. (Amy Niven photo)
By DEUCE NIVEN
tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com
Public school and government office closings in the Tabor-Loris Community and beyond will continue through at least Tuesday, and for the Columbus County Schools through Wednesday, the various agencies announced Monday morning.
Widespread closings have followed the weekend snowfall that left more than a foot of the powdery precipitation on the ground in many locations, and sub-freezing temperatures coupled with bright sunshine Sunday and Monday that have left some roadways even more treacherous with black ice.
Jacob Faircloth and his horse Nemo were both bundled up for a run in the snow Sunday in the outskirts of Loris. (Jenn Boyd, TLT)
Temperatures Monday were expected to get just above freezing in the area, a National Weather Service briefing at mid-morning said, with overnight lows going into Tuesday in the low Tuesdays expected to bring renewed threats of black ice on roadways.
Relief appears on the way by mid-week, with forecast highs Tuesday in the mid-40s increasing to about 50 degrees Wednesday, and the overnight low Tuesday into Wednesday above freezing at nearly 40 degrees.
Closings
Columbus County Schools will continue remote instruction that began Monday through at least Wednesday, a CCS news release said. Students should check Google Classroom for assignments and communications from teachers, the news release said. Students who encounter technical issues should contact the tech support hotline at 910-499-0080 or email ccssupport@columbus.k12.nc.us.
A blower and salt are tools of the trade for Town of Tabor City Public Works employes on East 5th Street Monday morning. (Deuce Niven, TLT)
“Families are encouraged to continue monitoring the Columbus County Schools mobile app, district website, social media, and Remind messages for updates,” the news release said.
Horry County Schools will also operate with its eLearning plan for Tuesday, with a decision on Wednesday to be announced no later than 2 p.m. Tuesday, a district news release said.
“Students who are unable to take part in eLearning due to power outages, lack of a personal learning device or internet service, or other barriers will have the opportunity to complete assignments at a later date,” the news release said. “School staff will communicate directions to students regarding their eLearning day.”
Columbus County and Tabor City government offices will remain closed Tuesday “due to ongoing hazardous road conditions following the recent winter storm,” a Columbus County Emergency Operations news release said. “While conditions have improved on major roadways, many secondary and rural roadways across the county remain unsafe, with lingering snow and ice continuing to create dangerous travel conditions. This decision is being made out of an abundance of caution to protect the county employees and the public.
“Residents are strongly encouraged to limit travel and remain off roadways, particularly on untreated secondary and rural route.”
One warming center remains open in Columbus County, at Facts of Life Church in Whiteville.
This week’s Loris City Council Meeting, scheduled for today (Feb. 2), has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, at City Hall.
Additional closings
- Solid waste collection by GFL for Columbus County residents will be cancelled again Tuesday, and customers who missed pick-up on Monday will not be serviced again until next Monday, Feb. 9, a Columbus County Emergency Operations news release said. Household trash that will not fit into the roll-away trash container may be placed beside that container for Feb. 9 pickup and will be collected then. Other customers will be serviced on a one-day delay, with Tuesday customers served Wednesday, Friday customers on Saturday. Residents should always play trash containers by the roadway the night before pickup to ensure service, the news release said.
Additional closings announced Monday afternoon, after this original story was posted, include:
- Southeastern Community College will remain closed Tuesday with remote work and instruction to be conducted where possible. The campus will remain closed and all scheduled events are cancelled.
- Columbus County Courts will be closed again Tuesday, with all superior and district court sessions cancelled, Clerk of Court Jess Hill announced.
- Horry County government offices and facilities will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday, and the county has returned to normal operating conditions, OPCON 3, a mid-afternoon news release Monday said. Horry County Parks and Recreation and Library programs will continue their normal schedules after the 10 a.m. opening, and Horry County Council’s evening meeting Tuesday will begin as scheduled. Horry County Solid Waste Authority recycling centers that normally open on Tuesday will open at 10 a.m. “dependent upon weather and site conditions,” an SWA news release said. SWA Landfill, administrative office, material recycling and household hazardous waste facilities will operate under regular hours.
Updates will be posted here as warranted. Look for a wrap-up of the winter storm and its impacts in this week’s Tabor-Loris Tribune, in print and online.
