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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)