Newspaper Page Text
The
www.MadisonJournalTODAY.com
MARCH 5, 2009
Merged with The Comer News and The Danielsville Monitor, 2006
Vol. 24 No. 10 • Publication No. 1074-987 • Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. • 24 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements
Winter Storm ‘09
Thousands without power for days after half a foot of snow falls on county
Schools closed for three days
M ove over blizzard of ’93. The great
snow of ’09 now has its place in
local winter weather lore.
A March 1 storm blasted Madison County
with an estimated seven inches of snow as the
precipitation fell for hours Sunday afternoon and
into the night. The snowflakes reached the size of
half-dollar coins late in the afternoon.
As the landscape took on the look of northern
country, the crack and boom of timber hitting
the ground became more frequent. Power poles
buckled and falling limbs snapped electricity
lines, abruptly altering plans for anyone suddenly
stuck in a dark home.
An estimated 95 to 100 percent of Madison
County was out of power for at least some time
after the snowstorm, with Jackson EMC report
ing 24,000 customers without power at the peak
of the storm. As of Wednesday morning, 4,386
Jackson EMC customers in the Neese District
remained without power.
“The cooperative is focusing 30 crews in
Madison County today,” said Jackson EMC
spokesperson Bonnie Jones Wednesday. “About
70 broken power poles have been reported,
mostly in Madison County, and restoration has
been slowed by the time required to replace those
poles.”
Jones said that repair trucks were hampered by
muddy conditions.
“Yesterday, a number of trucks had to be
winched out of the mud before they could go to
their next assignment,” saaid Jones. “Today the
cooperative has a wrecker on standby in Neese.
Downed limbs and trees are also slowing crews
down, forcing them to clear roads and right of
way to reach damaged equipment.”
— See ‘Snow’ on 2A
Meetings rescheduled
•The Madison County Board of Commissioners
rescheduled its March 2 meeting to Monday, March
9, at 6:30 p.m.
•The Colbert City Council has canceled its March
meeting.
•The Danielsville City Council rescheduled its
March meeting for 7 p.m., March 9, at city hall.
•The Comer City Council rescheduled its March 2
meeting for Wednesday, March 4, at 6 p.m.
•The Carlton City Council rescheduled its March 2
meeting for March 3.
•The lla City Council rescheduled its March meet
ing to Monday, March 16, at 7 p.m.
(Top left) A Pike Electric truck got stuck in a muddy field after replacing a power pole to restore power to Jackson EMC
customers in Madison County. (Mark Owen, Jackson EMC). (Top middle) Icy conditions created hazardous driving conditions
in Danielsville. (Charles Richards). (Top right) The sun rises over a snowy landscape off Gholston Street in Comer Monday.
(Elizabeth Prata). (Main photo) Journeyman Lineman Rodney Black, of Jackson EMC’s Neese District office, makes repairs
to damaged lines in lla. (Mark Owen, Jackson EMC). (Bottom right) A snow-covered branch is pictured off New Haven Church
Road, Danielsville (Jennie Catherine Nash). (Bottom right) Samantha Wyatt, Colbert, rides a four-wheeler in the snow. (Cherri
Wyatt).
INSIDE
Index:
News—1-3A
Opinions— 4-5A
Crime— 6A
Socials — 7-8A
Churches— 9A
Schools— 10A
Spoils— 1-2B
Obituaries— 3-4B
Legate—5B
Contact:
Phone: 706-795-2567
Fax: 706-795-2765
Mail: P.O. Box 658,
Danielsville, GA, 30633
Web:
MadisonJoumalTODAY.com
Taylor Crouse, 14; Anna Crouse, 11; puppy Alex Crouse, eight weeks; Jonathan Crouse,
9; and Josh Crouse, 16; enjoy the snow Sunday at their home on Old Kincaid Road near
Colbert. (Steve Crouse)