A Wind Chill Warning continues, until noon tomorrow.
Dangerously cold wind chill values could hit -23, -29 tonight, and -30 tomorrow. Tonight’s actual low will dip to 10-below.
Due to dangerously cold conditions, virtually all area schools are closed today.
The extreme winter conditions have forced school districts all over to use their five ‘snow days’ and more.
Now, Governor John Kasich is urging state lawmakers and the Ohio Department of Education to work on legislation that would provide a one-time increase in the number of days schools can take off, due to severe weather. Changing the number of calamity days would require action by the Ohio General Assembly. A bill has been introduced, to add four more calamity days for this year.
Checking snow emergencies…
Huron County is now under at Level 1, along with Erie, Lorain, Ashland and Crawford counties.
Sandusky, Seneca and Richland counties are at Level 2.
Utility companies are asking us to conserve electricity during the deep freeze.
The company in charge in Ohio’s electric grid wants people to turn off lights and electric appliances during today’s early evening hours. Demand for power is expected to peak then, increasing the risk for rolling blackouts.
From the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services…
Huron County’s December unemployment rate was 10.8 percent, sixth highest in the state. Rates in neighboring counties ranged from 6.6 percent in Sandusky County, to 7.6 percent in Crawford County. The statewide average was 7.2 percent.
The Norwalk Truckers are number one in Ohio.
The boys basketball team is the top-ranked team in Division II, in this week’s statewide hoops poll. #1 Norwalk will play at fifth-ranked Ontario tomorrow night. You can hear it on 95.3 WLKR and wlkrradio.com. Live coverage will begin at 7:30.
It’s a light, but important agenda.
The Norwalk Board of Education will meet in special session tonight, to place an emergency operating levy on the May ballot. It’s the 5-for-5 levy—five mills for five years. If approved, it would generate $1.5 million dollars annually for the Norwalk City Schools.
Also on tonight’s agenda: discussion of budget cuts and revenue enhancements, and a resolution adopting a calamity day alternative make-up plan. An executive session is scheduled, to discuss personnel. Tonight’s meeting will begin at 7, at Norwalk High School.
Unhappy with her work, the Sandusky City Commissioners have given city manager Nicole Ard a choice: immediately improve her performance, or be fired.
The last-chance agreement was delivered to Ard yesterday. It gives her up to 60 days to turn things around. The city commissioners are looking for improvement in several areas, including financial planning, leadership and communication with others.
An area man accused of sexually abusing a girl for several years is behind bars.
63-year-old William Marton of Birmingham turned himself in yesterday, and was jailed on charges of rape and gross sexual imposition. More charges are expected. He’s scheduled to be arraigned this morning. Marton allegedly had inappropriate sexual contact with the victim, between the ages of 7 and 12. The now-teenage girl came forward with the allegations last week.