Temperatures Fall To Single Digits

The clock/temperature sign at Hamilton State Bank read a mere eight degrees Tuesday morning, and some places around the county had lower readings than that.

Because of the unusually cold temperatures, local schools were closed Tuesday. Students had returned to school on Monday after the holiday break, and Jasper County high School Principal said she had a 23 percent absentee rate then.

Jasper County, as well as systems all around, made the decision to close. Much activity ground to a halt Tuesday, when subzero temperatures crossed the area.

Precipitation had cleared before the cold temperatures arrived, so there were no serious road conditions.

In Monticello, the official records are kept at the water plant on Post Road, and the low temperature logged there was nine degrees Monday and Tuesday morning both.

The high for the past week was 54 degrees, and that was last Friday. No precipitation has been logged. (See weather chart on page 5.)