ICE FORCES SCHOOLS TO CLOSE

Schoolchildren are getting an extension to their holiday vacation thanks to the wintry weather that grips the area.

Dozens of area schools, including Cape Girardeau and Jackson public schools, canceled classes Monday and again today.

Predictions for a slight warming trend today could mean that the vacation soon will be over.

Dr. Dan Tallent, Cape Girardeau superintendent, spent much of the afternoon Monday driving around the city looking at streets and sidewalks.

"We look at two major considerations," Tallent said. "First we look at the bus route. Are we able to travel those routes safely? Then we look at the sidewalks. What a lot of people don't realize is that over half of our elementary kids walk to school."

If sidewalks are icy, youngsters take to the streets to walk to school.

"We're talking about kids in kindergarten through sixth grade walking in the street. That worries me," Tallent said.

"We probably could run the buses tomorrow if the drivers were very careful at the intersections. But as you go around town you will see a lot of sidewalks still iced over. It's going to be really cold, and I don't want to see those little guys out on slick sidewalks."

Maintenance staff at the school district took advantage of a day without students to try to clear ice from walkways and parking lots at school buildings.

"We are hoping to get some thawing Tuesday," Tallent said on Monday.

Today is expected to be a busy one at Southeast Missouri post offices as St. Louis breaks loose from snow and ice, said Cape Girardeau Postmaster Michael Keefe.

Much of the mail delivered to Southeast Missouri must first pass through St. Louis where air traffic was grounded and truck traffic slowed because of the winter storm.

"Actually the trucks from St. Louis were on time Monday, but they didn't have a lot on them," Keefe said. "I think tomorrow we will be swamped with mail."

Over the weekend postal employees have been delivering mail where it was safe.

"Every day things get better," Keefe said.

Delivery trucks are equipped with snow chains and delivery personnel have ice grippers for their shoes. The grippers are a type of cleat to help generate traction on the ice.

While Cape Girardeau streets are fairly clear, roads to outlying post offices and delivery routes aren't as easy to travel, Keefe said.

The cold weather, however, doesn't pose much of a problem for deliveries. "Is it uncomfortable? Yes. But we dress for the cold, and we can get through."

It was cold Monday. The low in Cape Girardeau was 9 degrees.

A wind chill advisory continued in northeast Missouri Monday as single-digit temperatures combined with a north wind to create wind chill values 15 to 30 degrees below zero.

Temperatures today are expected to rise close to the freezing mark. However, a snow shower is possible. A warmup is predicted to begin Wednesday.

Thursday brings a chance for rain, sleet or snow as high temperatures hover around the freezing mark. The chance of rain or snow continues into Friday. High temperatures on Friday are predicted to reach the middle 40s.

Just a month ago on Dec. 5, the high temperature in Cape Girardeau was 71 degrees.