Conditions close Polk schools again, keep roads uncertain

Published 2:59 pm Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The driver of this BMW saw first-hand the danger of icy roadways after sliding off the embankment of Hwy. 176 from Landrum to Tryon. (photo by Betty Ramsey)

The driver of this BMW saw first-hand the danger of icy roadways after sliding off the embankment of Hwy. 176 from Landrum to Tryon. (photo by Betty Ramsey)

From Staff Reports

Polk County Schools Superintendent Bill Miller said the school system will not be open for classes tomorrow. Miller said with temperatures dropping back below freezing again tonight, the system feels many roads might remain too dangerous to send out buses. Polk County Schools as well as schools Spartanburg and Greenville counties dismissed early Tuesday and were closed Wednesday because of the weather.

Emergency crews in Polk County responded to numerous calls for service Tuesday, Jan. 28 and Wednesday, Jan. 29 because of snow and icy conditions.

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Polk County government offices closed early on Tuesday and were on a delay Wednesday.

Emergency calls have included a few residents sliding into ditches and others who were stranded or couldn’t get in or out of their driveways.

One accident in the Red Fox Road/Peniel Road area involved a driver who overturned into a ditch and was entrapped in the car on Tuesday, Jan. 28, according to Polk County Emergency Management. The driver was not injured.

Tryon Town Hall opened at 11 a.m. Wednesday with the town’s street department attempting to sand and scrape roads where possible.

Tryon reported on Wednesday that the N.C. Department of Transportation was scraping main roads, such as Hwy. 108 and U.S. 176 and that there were stranded vehicles throughout the county.

Tryon also sent out a notice late Tuesday warning residents not to travel as its street department reported icy roads. Wednesday afternoon another notice was sent out by Tryon officials stating that Jervey Rd. in Tryon was closed until further notice.

Landrum emergency workers and volunteers fared about as well.

Bruce Cogdell, captain of the Landrum rescue squad, said, “We’ve had several minor accidents, and one of our police officers fell and we took him to Spartanburg Regional. We’re busy, but nothing too bad. Most people are going slow and they slide off the road. One car slid way off an embankment, but nobody got hurt. The system got busy and 85 was really busy, but as far as us, it was a lot of calls but not a lot of injuries. It’s melted here real good, but we could have black ice tonight. It’ll be a good night to stay home and have your feet propped up by the fireplace.”

The officer suffered a concussion but is expected to make a full recovery.

Temperatures were forecast to reach 34 degrees on Wednesday and 44 degrees on Thursday with an overnight low of 24 degrees, according to weather.com.