By Shannon McFarlin News Director
A coating of ice has made roadways in our area treacherous and law enforcement and emergency personnel are advising everyone to stay off the roads as much as possible.
Henry County Emergency Management Agency Director Ron Watkins said county roads are slick and dangerous. “The main roads appear to be o.k. and the city and county have been out blading the roads, but the county roads and side roads are very treacherous.”
Several vehicles have driven off the roads since the ice storm began earlier this morning in Henry County, he said.
Paris Police Chief Ricky Watson asked the public to stay off the roads as much as they can today. “I’d like to request everyone just stay home today if they could,” Watson said.
Henry County and Paris City government offices, along with the county schools and Paris Special Schools Districts, are closed. The closings include sanitation pickups, Paris City Hall (includes Police Records office), the Civic Center, Landfill and Animal Shelter. They will be closed until further notice.
Also closed are the Henry County Courthouse, Courthouse Annex Building, Central Community Building, Health Department, Election Office, Recycling Center, and the Airport. Courts are also closed.
Obion County government offices also are closed today, as are both the Obion County Schools and Union City Schools. Discovery Park of America and the Boys & Girls Clubs of NW Tennessee also are closed.
In Obion County, law enforcement and emergency personnel said roadways are slick and hazardous. They estimated freezing rain earlier caused icing from one-fourth to one inch.
Obion County EMA Director Danny Jowers said, “Travel is not advised at all, this is a NO travel day. Roads will again become very slick after sunset.”
Government offices in Weakley County and Carroll County also are closed today.
Freezing rain is expected to begin again later day, making roads even more hazardous.
Photo: Stewart Road near the Henry County Airport this morning. Photo by Jeromy Carper.