The warning was clear, “stay home.”

That’s what officials throughout Newton County and Covington had to say as freezing temperatures hit the snow that had fallen Tuesday.

Newton County and Newton County Schools decided Tuesday night, to remain closed today.

Reached at about 6:30, Covington-Newton County Emergency Management Agency Director Jody Nolan said the public works department had already addressed about 20-25 locations throughout the county with salt and/or calcium.

He warned that throughout the night, it would get worse.

“Temperatures are dropping gradually, and according to the forecast at about 10 p.m. most will experience black ice all over Newton County.”

That black ice was expected to last through Wednesdays as temperatures are expected to reach just one degree above freezing for about an hour.

“My best advice is, unless you have to travel, don’t travel,” Nolan said.

Newton County Chairman Keith Ellis echoed Nolan’s statement.

“It doesn’t look good for tomorrow,” Ellis said Tuesday evening. “People need to stay at home. Get your bread and milk and stay in the house.”

Nolan said the public works department was in 12-hour shifts, with one going from 7 p.m. Tuesday until 7 a.m. in the morning. According to Nolan, the county had plenty of ice and calcium to take it through the night.

“The county public works department has done a great job,” Nolan said.
Nolan reported two accidents without injuries earlier Tuesday and five accidents from about 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. as the roads began to freeze.

Newton County closed at 2 p.m. Tuesday as the winter storm came in to the north central Georgia area, following NCSS’s lead. The school system started sending students home at 11:15 a.m.

Other shortened work days Tuesday were:

The Newton County Planning Commission meeting was cancelled; Covington Family Y closed at 3 p.m.; Newton County Library system was closed Tuesday; and The Covington News closed at 2 p.m. and will reopen at 9:30 a.m. today, if weather permits.