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January 28, 2010

<font color=RED>P.M. Update</font> Emergency closings, ice storm impacting county

By The Banner Staff

Numerous closings are taking place throughout Stephens County. As of noon today, the Stephens County Courthouse was closed. Schools reporting closings early today include Cameron University-Duncan Campus, Comanche Public Schools and Waurika Public Schools — dismissing classes by 1 p.m.; Duncan Public Schools — dismissing at 2 p.m. A decision will be made by 6 p.m. as to whether those schools will be open Friday. Waurika public schools will be closed Friday and Senior Night basketball games that were planned for Friday will be rescheduled.

All non-essential city personnel were released from work at 11:30 a.m. Duncan City Manager Clyde Shaw said that the parks and street departments will remain open to assist on roadways.

“We’re starting to see quite a bit of icing out north by Marlow, and west near Central High,” said Sheriff Wayne McKinney.

He said that bridges were starting to ice over and that tree limbs are already coming down. Extra county deputies have been dispatched to assist, he said, and his department is responding to downed limbs throughout the county. He said they are removing limbs off roads if they aren’t too large to assist the county commissioners.

“I know early this morning when I was watching the weather, they just had us forecast for sleet,” McKinney said.

David Yeager, director of Duncan Power said two homes have already been affected by tree limbs falling onto electrical lines.

“We haven’t had to respond to any widespread problems, just two houses that have limbs that fell onto the lines,” he said.

County Emergency Management Director Gary Ball said that the county fairgrounds is ready to open as an emergency shelter if area cities and Duncan deems necessary. The shelter would be operated by Red Cross services, based upon the need. That need would most likely be if power outages occur.

In Marlow, there are reports of sporadic power outages and the city will assess its situation in mid-afternoon as to closings. Sanitation services will not run in Marlow Friday.

Jimmy Pryor, assistant to Ball and also county floodplains manager, said flooding is not anticipated, even though the rainfall has been steady.

“We’re more concerned with the icing effect on the trees and lines at this time,” Pryor said.

Ball said the Mullins Baptist Association’s emergency assistance truck is at the fairgrounds on standby.

For information on county emergency services, Ball said to call 580-255-3411.

The Simmons Center will also be closing at 2 p.m., Junior Harris, executive director, said. Harris also said that it has not been determined if the Simmons Center will be open Friday.

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