Schools close, government offices operate on shortened hours because of winter storm

Brad Heineman, The Daily Telegram
·3 min read
An Adrian Department of Public Works snowplow is seen in action Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 25, 2023, plowing a stretch of South Main Street near Beecher Street.
An Adrian Department of Public Works snowplow is seen in action Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 25, 2023, plowing a stretch of South Main Street near Beecher Street.

Schools, businesses, government offices and other establishments around Lenawee County heeded weather forecasters' warnings and either closed for the day Wednesday or operated on shortened hours as a winter storm moved across southeastern Michigan and dumped inches of snow on the county.

Lenawee County was in the path of a winter storm that was expected to bring as much as 8 inches of snow to the area, according to a report from the National Weather Service office near Pontiac.

Trestle Park in Adrian was covered with wet snow Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, as a winter storm moved through Lenawee County and southeastern Michigan.
Trestle Park in Adrian was covered with wet snow Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, as a winter storm moved through Lenawee County and southeastern Michigan.

Light snow arrived in the morning. However, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service, was when the intensity of the snowfall was to pick up. The major concern with the snowfall was the deterioration of afternoon travel conditions.

“Travel will become increasingly difficult as roads become snow-packed and slick,” the weather service said.

Lenawee County was originally under a winter storm watch Monday, but was upgraded to a winter storm warning Tuesday, which was in effect from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Some afternoon snowfall rates were expected to reach 1 inch per hour at times, the NWS said.

All school districts in the county were closed for the day Wednesday, with nearly all of the districts announcing the snow day closures Tuesday afternoon and evening. School closings for the county also impacted Adrian Community Preschool, Lenawee Christian School, Sacred Heart Catholic School in Hudson and St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Preschool and Elementary School in Adrian.

All school districts in Lenawee County had a snow day Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, because of a winter storm that dumped several inches of snow on the county.
All school districts in Lenawee County had a snow day Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, because of a winter storm that dumped several inches of snow on the county.

To ensure the safety of its members, staff and families, the Boys & Girls Club of Lenawee was also closed all day Wednesday.

Classes Wednesday at Siena Heights University’s Adrian campus operated on a remote basis, the university said in an announcement. Evening and athletic events were canceled Wednesday at the university.

Adrian College, meanwhile, conducted classes and dual-enrollment courses as regularly scheduled. Students were encouraged to check their emails for any updates regarding their classes from their instructors.

With all school districts in Lenawee County cancelling school for the day Wednesday because of a winter storm, children could spend some time playing in the snow and sledding down some of the hills at Island Park in Adrian.
With all school districts in Lenawee County cancelling school for the day Wednesday because of a winter storm, children could spend some time playing in the snow and sledding down some of the hills at Island Park in Adrian.

Several communities in the county issued local snow emergencies that either expired Wednesday night or sometime today. A snow emergency for the city of Tecumseh expires at noon today. The objective when issuing a local snow emergency is for residents to remove their vehicles from the streets so that crews can plow away the snow without having to work around or bury vehicles in the plowed snow.

“Our goal in declaring a snow emergency is to clean the streets and not to write violation tickets,” the city of Tecumseh said in a news release. “However, the Tecumseh Police Department may issue violations to any vehicle that is parked on city streets during this time.”

In Morenci, a snow emergency there ends at 10 a.m. today. The city and its department of public works, meanwhile, also asked for its residents to move basketball hoops that are located near city streets to driveways or other private areas to allow for adequate plowing and street sweeping.

The Lenawee County Department on Aging closed all senior centers and Daybreak Adult Day Services in Adrian because of the weather conditions, as reported to The Daily Telegram. Because of the closure of the senior centers, home-delivered meals and curbside meal pickup services were not provided Wednesday.

Cari Rebottaro, director for the Lenawee County Department on Aging, said, during severe weather occurrences is when friends and neighbors are most encouraged to check in on any older adults in their lives.

“If they receive any services in the home, please consider assisting with clearing the drive or walk ways for the safety of the staff visiting the home, as these services are rarely canceled,” Rebottaro said in a Wednesday morning announcement.

All Adrian City offices closed for the day at 2 p.m. Wednesday because of the inclement weather, a news release from the city said. Offices are expected to reopen for regular business hours today.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Winter storm closes schools, government office hours shortened