UPDATE: Rockdale County Public Schools will be closed for students Friday. 12-month employees to report at noon.
From RCPS: "The superintendent and cabinet members along with transportation and facilities staff spent the entire afternoon riding through neighborhoods, evaluating the school campuses, and working to de-ice critical areas. We found that many neighborhoods and many of our schools continue to have hazardous entrances, parking lots and bus lanes due to ice and are not safe for cars or buses. Superintendent Autry remarked, 'While I do feel a sense of urgency to re-open schools, the safety and well-being of our students and staff must be my first priority.'"
Basketball games for RCPS school teams are also canceled Friday. The rescheduled dates for those games are to be determined.
Newton County School System is closed for students Friday. Teachers, school administrators, cafeteria managers, central office employees and 12-month employees are to report at 10 a.m. Bus drivers and cafeteria staff do not have to report.
Eastminster School is closed Friday.
Peachtree Academy school is closed Friday but the early childhood learning (infant to pre-K) program and camp programs (kindergarden to 8th grade) are open at 7:30 a.m.; drop-ins accepted.
Young American Christian School is closed Friday.
Rockdale County offices and courts are open Friday at normal hours.
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(Jan. 30, 8:04 a.m.) The following roads are still closed as of 8 a.m. this morning - Troupe Smith Rd at Cowan Rd and Parker Road Bridge, according to Rockdale 911. Johnson Road is blocked off between Klondike and Flat Shoals. Parker Road Bridge may be open by 2 p.m.
Ice was reported at the following roads within the last 12 hours:
- Honey Creek Rd between GA Hwy 20 and Newton County line
- Flat Shoals Rd / Old Salem Rd
- Bell Rd - Flat Shoals Rd / Johnson Rd
- The intersection of Troupe Smith Rd and Oglesby Bridge Rd is solid ice - Hi Roc Rd from E Lake Dr
There may be icy patches on the roads that look dry, so drivers are urged to use caution and drive carefully. If you see icy roads, email us at news@rockdalenews.com, tweet us @rockdalenews, or post a message at www.facebook.com/rockdalenews
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(Jan. 29, 10:49 p.m.) Rockdale County offices and courts are closed Thursday. City of Conyers offices have a delayed opening, starting at noon Thursday.
The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office responded to at least 44 accidents since the snow started falling Wednesday.
Two were single-vehicle crashes where the car overturned. In one crash, an Isuzu overturned on Ga. Hwy 20 north at Woodcrest Drive near JH House Elementary around 3:08 p.m. In another crash around 3:25 p.m., a Jeep overturned and hit a tree in the 2600 block of Tucker Mill Road. There were no injuries reported in either crash.
RCFR and RCSO brought in extra crews to handle the high volume of calls that were received due to the weather. Rockdale County Department of Transportation and Conyers public works crews has been working on sanding and scraping the roadways.
“RCFR can not reiterate enough the importance of using extreme caution, as well as your best judgement in all situations," said spokesperson Chris Kozikowski. “While outside playing and enjoying the snow, please remember to go inside and warm up often to avoid serious health conditions such as hypothermia or frostbite.”
Drivers are urged to stay off the road until at least 10 a.m. Thursday.
Rockdale Medical Center is postponing outpatient elective procedures until 10 a.m. Thursday. A RMC spokesperson said, "We believe that this delay will provide ample time for people to get up and drive to the facility during daylight hours to ensure they have the best visibility possible."
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(Jan. 29, 3:10 p.m.) Rockdale County Public Schools are closed Thursday, due to icy road conditions. Make up days to be determined.
Newton County School System is also closed Thursday for students and employees.
Social Circle public schools, DeKalb County public school system, Gwinnett County public school system are closed Thursday. Walton County School District schools are closed, with 12-month employees reporting if they can
Peachtree Academy school closed Thursday, early childhood education and camp open.
Eastminster School is closed Thursday.
YACS is closed Thursday.
Rockdale Medical Center is canceling all elective procedures for Wednesday, Jan. 29. Inpatient and emergency services remain available.
A RMC spokesperson said in a statement, "We will be monitoring conditions throughout the day and overnight hours and evaluating which outpatient services will be available on Thursday, January 30, 2014."
For those that do need to come to the hospital, RMC driveways and parking lots are accessible except for the ramp to the lower parking deck on the Walgreen's side due to icing concerns, according to Vanessa Dameron, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for RMC.
The American Legion Post 77 weekly Bingo session is canceled for Wednesday evening.
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(Jan. 29, 9:40 a.m.) Rockdale County government offices are closed today. City of Conyers government offices are closed today and reopen Thursday at noon.
Trucks with the city of Conyers began spreading a sand/salt mixture on the roads after the snow stopped Tuesday and will go back over roads again today, said a city spokesperson.
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(Jan. 29, 6:34 a.m.) The following roads are closed due to icing - Parker Rd. Bridge, Sigman Rd. from Milstead Ave. to Ga. Hwy 138, the intersection of Rockbridge Rd. and Salem Rd., and Salem Rd. to the Rockdale-Newton county line.\
Ice is also reported at:
- Salem Rd at Flat Shoals Rd
- Old Salem Rd at Ellington Rd
- GA Hwy 20 N between Hi Roc Rd and Mt Zion Rd
- Gees Mill at Sigman Rd
- Ebenezer Road at Johnson Park
- Ebenezer Road at GA Hwy 138
- 3200 block E Fairview Road
- McDaniel Mill Road in front of Lake St. James Apartments
- Rockbridge Rd just below Farmer Rd
- Gees Mill Rd / Old Covington Rd
- Hi Roc Rd and Philadelphia
- Hurst Rd between Dekalb County line and Klondike Rd
- Brandy Shoals Dr at Christian Cir
- Sigman Rd / Chambers Dr
- Tucker Mill Rd / GA Hwy 138 near Deer Hollow subdivision
- GA Hwy 138 from GA Hwy 212 to Tucker Mill Rd heading towards Heritage High School
- GA Hwy 212 / GA Hwy 138
- Dogwood Dr at Dogwood Connector
- 1200 Sigman Rd near the Rockdale County Recycling Center
Drivers are urged stay off the roads if possible. Patrol and first responder vehicles reportedly have had trouble navigating the ice at these locations and throughout the county. Salem Road is described as "a sheet of ice."
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(Jan. 28, 6:32 p.m.) Rockdale County Public Schools will be closed Wednesday for students and staff, according to RCPS spokesperson Cindy Ball.
Newton County Schools will also be closed on Wednesday.
Eastminster School is closed Wednesday as well.
Young American Christian School is closed Wednesday.
Peachtree Academy school and after school sports activities will be closed Wednesday but the infant and pre-K early learning and day camp will be open starting 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Camp is open for pre-K to 8th grade youth and drop-ins are welcome. For more information, call 770-860-8900 x1005 or email info@peachtreeacademy.com
Rockdale Fire and Rescue reports responding to at least three accidents since the snow started falling around noon - all single vehicle crashes with overturned vehicles. No serious injuries were reported.
RCFR Chief Dan Morgan cautions drivers to "please slow down or just stay off the roads as much as possible."
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(Jan. 28, 4:08 p.m.) Icy roads are reported at the following locations, according to the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office:
- Rockbridge Rd just below Farmer Rd
- Gees Mill Rd / Old Covington Rd
- Hurst Rd between Dekalb County line and Klondike Rd
- 3200 block E Fairview Road
- McDaniel Mill Road in front of Lake St. James Apartments
Schools
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, no decision has been made on Rockdale County Public School schedules for Wednesday, according to RCPS spokesperson Cindy Ball, as RCPS officials continue to monitor weather information.
All campuses of Georgia Perimeter Technical College is closed Wednesday. Oxford College of Emory University and Emory University is closed Wednesday.
County offices
Rockdale County employees and residents can call the Rockdale County hotline at 770-278-7002 to find out if county offices are closing due to inclement weather and at what hours.
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(Jan. 28, 2:41 p.m.) Parker Road Bridge is closed due to icing. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes.
The City of Conyers government offices closed today at 2 p.m. and are set to reopen at noon Wednesday.
The Rockdale Superior and State Court Clerk of Courts offices closed at 2:30 p.m. and are tentatively set to reopen at noon Wednesday.
The Rockdale County District Attorney's office also closed Tuesday afternoon.
Rockdale County government offices closed at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and are set to reopen at noon Wednesday.
The Rockdale Tax Commissioner's Office and Tag Office closed at 2:30 p.m. and will reopen at 1 p.m. Wednesday
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(Jan. 28, 7:41 a.m.) Rockdale County Public Schools will have an early release today. Elementary schools will release at 11:30 a.m., high schools at 12:35 p.m., and middle schools at 1:35 p.m.
Peachtree Academy will close early as well, with pre-K and elementary grades releasing at 2 p.m., and middle and high school grades at 2:30 p.m. After school programs at Peachtree Academy are open until 5:45 p.m. The basketball game and baseball practice have been canceled.
Eastminster School will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. and after school activities are canceled.
Parenting classes at Conyers First United Methodist are canceled this evening.
If you travel on 138 to get to work or school, drivers are advised to use alternate routes this morning. Ga. Hwy 138 is closed from Old Salem Rd to Starbucks due to repair of a traffic light that was down since about 1 a.m. Crews are on the scene.
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(Jan. 27, 7:45 p.m.) All after school activities for Rockdale County Public Schools have been canceled, including after school care programs, according to RCPS spokesperson Cindy Ball. Parents are asked to make other arrangements for children that participate in after school programs.
RCPS officials are continuing to monitor weather information closely.
In neighboring Newton County, public schools there are releasing early, with elementary schools being dismissed at 11:15 a.m., high schools at 12:15 p.m., and middle schools at 1:15 p.m. Newton County School System after school activities are also canceled.
Young American Christian School will also have early dismissal. K-3rd grade will be released at 11:45 a.m., 7th - 12th grade at 12 p.m. noon, 4th - 6th grade at 12:15 p.m.) The school will close at 12:30 p.m. and all students must be picked up by then. YACS after school activities are all canceled.
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(Jan. 27, 2:49 p.m.) More cold weather is on its way to Rockdale County.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for areas of central Georgia, including Newton, Rockdale and Walton counties.
A wintry mix of snow and sleet is possible, including two or more inches of snow, ½ inch or more of sleet, with the latter more likely south of Interstate 20 along a line from Columbus to Macon.
According to the National Weather Service, wintry precipitation is expected to begin as early as mid-morning Tuesday and last through early Wednesday afternoon. Temperatures are expected to drop to the lower 30's Tuesday afternoon and the lower and middle 20's Tuesday night.
Rockdale County Public Schools is closely monitoring the weather information, said RCSP spokesperson Cindy Ball. A decision has not been made as of Monday morning but will be when more concrete information is available closer to the time, she said.
A Rockdale County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said deputies will monitor road conditions to check for icy buildup and make road closures when necessary. Updates regarding road closures will be posted to the RCSO Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep the public informed. Anyone who wants the RCSO to check on them or anyone else during the winter storm can call 9-1-1 or the non-emergency line at 770-483-4200 to make that request.
To prepare for the weather, the RCSO advises residents have additional fuel supplies on hand, have an emergency heating source, close off unneeded rooms, winterize your vehicle, conserve your energy and limit travel as much as possible.
Sheriff Eric Levett said, "The RCSO will keep a close watch on weather conditions and we will keep the public up to date on any road closures or other storm-related issues. While we will all enjoy the snow, the biggest priority is for everyone to stay safe."
Rockdale Fire and Rescue advises drivers to use extreme caution and drive only if necessary and urged the following precaution.
- Make sure that you use caution while using alternative heating sources (space heaters, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves).
- Make sure that people with functional/access needs are prepared.
- Make sure that pets have a warm safe place for the next few days.
