Winter arrived over Christmas Break and stayed into 2022

POMEROY–Weather and environmental events have prompted road, school and business closures on the first Monday of the new year, January 3, and late start on Tuesday, January 4, 2022.

The last week of December brought many inches of snow with drifting and difficult driving conditions. Things improved slightly for main road driving, but for rural roads, not so much. It was then Pomeroy Schools Superintendent Rachel Gwinn placed a Facebook announcement there would be no school the following day, Monday, January 3, 2022, due to road and weather conditions.

“Pomeroy School District will not be having school tomorrow, Monday, January 3, 2022, due to unsafe road and weather conditions,” said Gwinn. “Our number-one priority is to keep students and staff safe. With the current winds and the expectation of more snow to fall on Monday, this was the safest decision. This will be a snow day, so there will be no online learning required.

“If additional closures are necessary after Monday, communication on distance learning will be communicated to each family by the student’s teacher,” Gwinn said.

Another Facebook announcement from Superintendent Gwinn, expressed the “Pomeroy School District 110 will be having a two-hour late start for Tuesday, January 4. This will allow road crews to continue to remove snow so all students, staff and parents can travel safely. If circumstances worsen overnight and it is not safe to travel, we will shift to remote learning for the day.”

According to a January 3, 2022 Facebook post by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office early Monday morning, most snow plowing by the county was suspended due to the current weather conditions. “Due to the winds creating snow drifts, plowing has been suspended until further notice. Please do not travel on the county roads if you do not have to. Stay home and keep warm!”

Garfield County Engineer Grant Morgan announced later on Monday that the road plowing had resumed, but advised many roads would remain closed. “Garfield County is currently back in full force plowing roads. Still many roads closed but we are hitting those roads we feel will stay open for a while.”