By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
HARTFORD (WATE) - Cocke County schools were closed again Thursday because of snow and ice on some rural roads.
The hazardous conditions were remnants of Wednesday's winter storm.
"Several of our back roads are still completely snowed covered, iced over," said Cocke County Assistant Director of Schools Casey Kelley. "It just makes it impossible for us to put a bus on it safely."
Kelley said the Grassy Fork community, just outside Hartford, had the most problems.
"The main roads are in pretty good shape, but the side roads are pretty snowy, and pretty slick, so they tend to be dangerous," said Grassy Fork resident Ray Lowe.
Lowe, who owns Lowe's Deli in Grassy Fork, says the dangerous roads in this area are also hurting his business. He says his place is usually full of people eating breakfast, but on Thursday it was empty because of road conditions.
He was not surprised that school was canceled.
"Having lived up here for awhile you get kind of used to it," Lowe said. "They are looking out for the children's welfare. It's understandable."
School officials hope this is the last round of snow for this year.
"We are at our sixth day absent from school due to weather related issues," explained Kelley. "We bill five days a year, so we are one day over at this point."
Because Cocke County schools have already gone over their allotted snow days, administrators will have to make a decision to either extend the school year or modify existing schools days.
Officials will be out checking roads again to see if they will need to cancel school on Friday.
Roads near Grassy Fork Elementary School, just outside Hartford, were still ice-covered on Thursday.
"Several of our back roads are still completely snowed covered, iced over," said Cocke County Assistant Director of Schools Casey Kelley.
"The side roads are pretty snowy, and pretty slick, so they tend to be dangerous," said Grassy Fork resident Ray Lowe.
