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Back-to-school bash brings help in middle of year
PlayDatez

It wasn’t back-to-school weather, but dozens of children and their parents got the essentials they need for the second half of the school year.

The second annual Back 2 School supply drive winter edition was held Saturday at PlayDatez child development center in Hinesville.

“The reason we decided to do this is to give parents’ relief in the wintertime after Christmas because in the holidays, it’s hard to afford gifts and the material you need when you’re going back to school,” said Kamaria Boston, owner and operator of PlayDatez.

With help from other businesses and organizations, the back-to-school event had more than school supplies available for kids. There were also coats and uniforms. The United Way of Liberty County helped procure coats and school supplies, and Cultivated Pearls, along with Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, had $1,500 worth of uniforms in all sizes available.

“They did an amazing job,” Boston said. “I’m just glad to have so many community partners. We’re just ecstatic.”

Boston said she sees the need for new coats for children and new uniforms and was glad to have so much community help in providing those essentials. There was also a $50 gift card giveaway through CORE, which also helped with benefits such as SNAP and TANF.

“I’m glad we’re able to give to the community because there is a need,” Boston said.

Boston, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, saw the need for coats and uniforms and was glad her sorority sisters partnered with Cultivated Pearls.

“It was a match made in Heaven, honestly,” she said. “The community needed it. We see kids coming into school without coats. And we want to give gifts to our children and this helps takes the load off their pockets.”

Last year’s inaugural event drew from 7001,000 people and Boston expected another good crowd Saturday.

“Everyone walks away with a smile on their face,” she said. “We love to give back. It’s a great way to say thank you. We’re just blessed and thankful we can do this and the other community partners are willing to help every single time.”

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Next week's forecast calls for snow
snow
Forecasts call for snow Tuesday and possibly Wednesday.

Coastal Georgia residents could be in for a weather phenomenon that hasn’t taken place in several years.

The National Weather Service’s forecast for early next week calls for a chance of snow on Tuesday, and some freezing precipitation could come as early as Monday, said a meteorologist with the NWS’ office in Charleston, S.C.

“It will be unseasonably cold next week, particularly beginning on Monday,” said meteorologist Jonathan Lamb. “As far as the potential for wintry precipitation, there is a decent chance we could see some snow or freezing rain next week.”

Lamb said Monday night through Tuesday night is the window with the most chance for snow or freezing rain, though some forecast models also call for precipitation at the end of next week.

There hasn’t been snow in Hinesville since 2018 and longtime residents may remember the “White Christmas” of 1989. The last measurable snow in Hinesville occurred January 3, 2018, according to the NWS.

According to the National Weather Service’s forecast, there is a chance of snow Tuesday before 1 p.m., followed by a chance of rain between 1 and 4 p.m., with a chance of rain and snow after 4 p.m. Snow is likely Tuesday evening after 7 p.m., and temperatures overnight will drop into the low 20s.

There is also a 20% chance of snow Wednesday.

But snow and freezing rain also bring dangers, especially to the roads. Bridges and elevated roads also run the risk of icing over.

“In the Southeast, we’re not accustomed to a lot of wintry precipitation,” Lamb said. “People overestimate their capabilities for driving. They kind of assume the roads are completely cleared. But there are so many places where patches of ice can form. If you hit one patch of ice and are braking or turning, you could completely lose control. Our number one advice is to stay off the roads if you absolutely can.”

The state Department of Transportation urges drivers to follow safety precautions during hazardous weather, such as freezing rain or snow. Even melting snow can refreeze overnight and lead to a condition known as “black ice” on roads.

The Georgia DOT recommends drivers do the following:

• Beware of black ice (especially on bridges and overpasses) and watch for fallen trees or power lines

• Avoid driving unless absolutely necessary or postpone until daylight when road conditions, such as black ice, may be visible

• Do not pass a GDOT dump truck spreading salt/gravel; gravel may kick up and could break car windows. Follow at least 100 feet behind these vehicles

• Be aware of GDOT work crews who clear snow and ice from interstates and state routes

• Slow down to at least half of the normal speed limit and drive in low gear

• Treat a non-working traffic signal as a four-way stop

GDOT also prioritizes achieving and maintaining passable road conditions during winter weather. According to a GDOT spokesperson, among the priorities are keeping roads safe for emergency vehicles and has a goal of maintaining all lanes as passable unless the storm’s severity dictates otherwise.

GDOT crews will focus first on interstates, then on the most heavily-traveled state routes and then to lesser-traveled state routes. Crews also will pretreat bridges and overpasses prior to snow and ice conditions and consistently monitor those spans.

 

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