HalifaxTalk.com

[Medievalmaniac]

/snow in HP, Illinois:

http://weblogs.wgntv.com/chicago-weather/tom-skilling-blog/snow011409_mounds.jpg

Boy, those folks out in Illinois must really not care about their kids at all:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.centralillinoisnewscenter.com/images/NO%2520SNOW%2520DAY.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.centralillinoisnewscenter.com/news/local/80957652.html&usg=___N-bgEj_Ox6HzWdK1Ekvj9RB73g=&h=480&w=720&sz=57&hl=en&start=105&sig2=FPmQQOeZ0-ePyATZvIzmdg&itbs=1&tbnid=XqgqH3XGjmCOEM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dschool%2Bbus,%2Bsnow,%2Billinois%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D90&ei=0iBqS73gAsGklAeKj6ioCQ

Wow, was this in VIRGINA? Good thing we are so concerned with the school bus safety issue in the snow - didn't think we had to worry about the driver endangering our students!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/school-bus-snow.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.inquisitr.com/19379/bus-driver-paid-students-to-attack-kid-with-snowballs/&usg=__dkEAwrZxykOZJg9U5-b3u3SJMv0=&h=299&w=399&sz=31&hl=en&start=1&sig2=Z3FxUGwzD78q21m8579u0Q&itbs=1&tbnid=NhTMoCnh8fwjqM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dschool%2Bbus,%2Bsnow%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den&ei=vCFqS9v-BMaD8QayldntCA
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If it weren't for gravity and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable!

[V]

I'm not arguing for or against; just stating a few facts.

Danville City and Pittsylvania County are also closed tomorrow.

For what it's worth, many of the 'mountain counties' both in western VA and West Virginia have missed more school this winter than we have here in Southside.
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Today I'm handin' out lollipops and a** whoopin's. And I'm fresh outta lollipops...

[Tarheel]

Comparing Illinois to South-side VA is not even apples and oranges....it is more like apples and televisions.....

1. The drivers in Illinois are used to this type f weather and typically drive in it, both in their personal vehicles and in buses. So naturally to some extent, this provides for safety in snow situations there. Conversely, our drivers typically are not so accustomed.

2. Take a close look at the tires on those Illinois buses....those buses are "outfitted" for snow, sludge driving....ours are not.



We, here in South Boston, VA.... do not generally get anywhere near this much snow accumulated over a full winter, much less at one time. Allegedly there is more just like the last storm on the way, so you many want to look for school closings next week as well if that happens.

It would be a colossal waste of money to outfit our buses like they do where vast amounts of snow accumulate regularly, like Illinois.
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“Among natural rights are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” ---> Samuel Adams

[maverickmuse]

[mom2two]

I have heard thru the grapevine that the schools will probably be closed Friday also because they would not want to heat the schools just for one day and they are calling for more bad weather to be here Friday. Why send them to school if the weather comes while in school and they end up closing early due to weather?

[maverickmuse]

With this storm clearly on its way, it would seem foolish to put any children in harm's way. If schools are open, my kids will remain home on Friday. I don't gamble.
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"Be who you are and say what you feel... because those that matter... don't mind...and those that mind...don't matter!" (Author Unknown)

[Tarheel]

[HalifaxExpat]

Not trying to stir the pot, but since I currently live in Lake County, IL (northern suburbs of Chicago) I can attest to the fact that - at least here in my little area--the roads do NOT look like what you see in the pic with the bus.

The snowplows are out early and often whenever it snows, and they definitely put lots of $$ in the local budget for sand/salt to clear the roads. Nevertheless, just last month I upgraded my "all weather" tires and it has made a noticable difference when driving on snowy/slushy side roads. And they do close schools here due to snow, but usually not for more than a day or two.

Now, we haven't been significantly dumped on like Halifax (yet ) but when they know a big storm is coming the trucks are out before the first flake falls and they stay on top of it so that the roads don't have a chance to get too bad.

I do understand Medievalmaniac's frustration - not every employer is sympathetic to people with childcare issues. So, that made me think that there is potentially a business opportunity here: emergency back-up care providers.

What if there could be a business that employs a pool of people (with proper background checks and some level of emergency medical training) who could be called upon to provide sitting services (for children, invalids or elderly) when your regular caregivers are not available, or you simply don't have enough vacation, etc. etc. etc.?

I have seen this service offered through my company here in IL, but I am betting that it could work in good ol' Halifax VA, too.

[squirrelgirl55]

Henrico,Chesterfield counties and the city of Richmond have also been closed all week but are on a 2 hour delay tomorrow. They also got even more snow than we did. They have all the side streets and subdivision that are often in bad shape and slow to be cleared.

IF this weather pattern keeps up....and we start to have winters like this....we will need to re look at things such as the equipment for the buses, VDOT< etc. But with the budget shortfalls, that will be interesting.

I grew up in "The Hill City" of Lynchburg , during a period when there was a lot of snow. I do not remember us missing much school. But there were more schools ,,,,schools were more a neighborhood thing and there was not as much of a distance issue.

Also,. the litiginous nature of culture has made a lot of this happen.
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[Tarheel]

Stupid lawssuits are certainly a part of this as well. About employers not being "understanding" sometimes employers cannot "just deal" with people taking so much time off......it is not a matter of being a jerk, instead it is merely a matter of.....if you aint there his business cannot operate. That is afterall why he hired someone, right?
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“Among natural rights are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” ---> Samuel Adams

[rukelly]

If find it interesting that sports have resumed this week - practice, games, etc.
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"Establishing healthy behaviors during childhood is easier and more effective than trying to change unhealthy behaviors during adulthood." -www.thelunchbox.org

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[Tarheel]

[terr0918]

[Tarheel]

[mw]

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/education/article/WEAT04_20100203-222205/322088/

Found this on TD's web site. Thought ya'll might be interested.
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The Lord gives, government taxes it away.