The snowfall that capped Liberty County in a blanket of white Wednesday caused many local businesses, as well as city and county offices to close for safety measures.
Based on information provided by the Liberty County Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service, local schools and government offices and agencies quickly closed shop, asking employees to stay home and off the roads until conditions improved.
Local law enforcement agencies say those who braved the roadways were often met with slow moving traffic and several accidents.
A few employees at the Walmart Supercenter on Highway 84 reached out to the Courier, expressing concern of driving during Wednesday’s snow. An assistant manager posted on his Facebook page that scheduled employees were expected to come in or be charged with an unexcused absence. Employees who had no experience in driving in inclement weather feared being penalized.
Walmart’s corporate headquarters, however, swiftly addressed the issued and had the assistant manager remove the post immediately.
The media relations department issued a statement saying the safety of employees was paramount. They added it was not company policy to penalize employees who feared driving in inclement weather and that the governor had declared a state of emergency for the winter storm event.
Most roads were clear of snow and ice by Friday and things were beginning to return to normal around the county.
Liberty and Long county schools will go back to their routine schedules Monday, after being closed since late December for winter break. Staff reported back Tuesday and classes were to start Wednesday.
Liberty County government agencies will also return to business as usual Monday. The city of Hinesville returned to work Friday. On Friday, the city collected garbage for Wednesday’s and Thursday’s routes and Friday’s route was to be collected today. Yard waste collection has been suspended and will resume on Monday along with our normal solid waste operations.
The Live Oak Public Library branches in Liberty County reopened Friday. The Liberty County Branch of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia also reopened Friday.
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center outpatient clinics at the downtown campus and VA’s satellite clinics, including in Hinesville, were closed Friday, but will return to normal operations on Monday. Patients who had appointments during the closure will be contacted to reschedule. If you cannot wait to reschedule call the TAP line at 1-888-878-6884.