As the region waited for an ice storm that weather forecasters said would arrive Wednesday afternoon and evening in Western Kentucky, local officials announced closures and delays.
A Hopkinsville Community College official said all campuses will be shut down Thursday and Friday as students shift to virtual classes. No buildings on the HCC campus will be open.
Christian County Public Schools will be closed to in-person instruction Thursday. For the second day in a row, students will be in Non-Traditional Instruction, and the Virtual Learning Academy will continue normal operations. All school extracurricular activities and food services will be canceled Thursday, district spokesman John Rittenhouse said. City officials said the Thomas Street Recreation Center and the Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex could open late Thursday.
In addition, the Pennyroyal Area Museum will be closed Thursday, executive director Alissa Keller said.
The Christian County Health Department announced its Canton Street office would be closed Thursday. Also, city officials said the Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex and the Thomas Street Recreation Center are closed.
Hopkinsville is under an ice storm warning until 6 p.m. Thursday.
The National Weather Service said the area could receive two-tenths to one-half inch of ice coating.
“Travel is strongly discouraged as roads are likely to be treacherous,” the National Weather Service said. “If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”
The extended forecast calls for bitter cold temperatures over the weekend with wind chill temperatures below zero both Sunday and Monday mornings.
This story has been updated with new closure announcements.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.
