Classes close again Friday as ice storm cleanup continues

We’re still over a month away from the first day of Spring and Spring Break on the DeSoto County Schools calendar, but Mother Nature apparently decided a break was still needed. So, Ma Nature conjured up an ice storm this week to give the state’s largest school district some time off; four days off to be exact.  

This week’s ice storm that has blanketed the Mid-South with as much as a quarter-inch of ice on roads and surfaces, and has brought power crews out from other areas to help restore service to thousands of customers, on Friday caused the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors to make an emergency declaration to more quickly activate county crews to address problem areas left by the freezing rain and ice. 

Separately, with that knowledge, and also being made aware that some school buildings may not have power until the weekend at the earliest, DeSoto County Schools officials announced the cancellation of classes for Friday, Feb. 3. The school closing for Friday meant classes were in session for just one day this week, that being Monday, Jan. 30.  

The email sent to parents from Supt. Cory Uselton quoted the county’s declaration and said classes will be in session on Monday, Feb. 6.  

Students at the county’s private schools, such as Northpoint Christian School in Southaven, have also had unscheduled time off during the week with the icy weather, although Friday at Northpoint was already scheduled as a day off there for Parent-Teacher Conferences. 

Customers of Northcentral Electric Cooperative and Entergy have been made aware that those who do not have power may be without electricity into the weekend.  Friday, the number of outages had not been reduced, and instead was growing, as the weight of ice covering power lines, and fallen tree limbs on power lines, combined to cut off electric service throughout the area.  Crews have been working long hours to restore power and Thursday started getting help from other cooperatives in the power restoration process for Northcentral customers.

The good news is that the weather forecast is improving, as temperatures are supposed to warm into the 50s on Sunday and 60s, starting Monday, without a forecast of additional precipitation.