Cold leads to school start delay, school closures, power outages

Havre Daily News staff

Cold weather and equipment problems led to some schools being closed and some buses not running, the Havre schools and buses being delayed two hours and other problems in the area including at least two power outages.

9:10 a.m. Big Sandy Schools reports school was in session and most buses ran, although a diesel bus that runs to Box Elder could not run today.

Box Elder Schools, which were closed Wednesday due to heating problems, reported today the schools still are dealing with boiler issues and are closed.

Rocky Boy schools reported the schools are closed today due to the cold and some problems with diesel buses classes were canceled although staff will be in for training.

A call to Hays-Lodge Pole schools at 9 a.m. was not answered.

Harlem schools reported at 9 a.m. classes are being held and buses are running.

Chinook Public Schools are in session although morning buses did not run.

North Star Schools in Rudyard and Gildford reported the schools are in session and buses were running this morning.

CJI Schools in Chester reported the schools were open.

8:30 a.m. Havre public works reports it is working on a water main break on the 600 Block of Ninth Avenue.

Public Works also reported several residences have had water service lines freeze, and says it recommends allowing a small stream of water to flow from a tap to prevent freezing. It also recommends people check to make sure their sewer vent pipe outlet on the room of the house is not frozen.

NorthWestern Energy reports power outages caused by damaged lines were restored. An outage in Highland Park started at 4:48 a.m. with power restored at 8:02 a.m. and an outage on the east end of Havre started at 4:46 a.m. and power was restored at 7:32 a.m.

A representative of Hill County Electric Cooperative had not responded at 9:40 a.m. today to a call asking if the cooperative had experienced power outages.

Havre Fire Department also reports responding to three downed power lines, including a call at 4:41 a.m. in which a line fell on an unoccupied truck parked on the 3800 Block of U.S. Highway 2 Northeast, causing electricity to arc through the vehicle's tires and starting it on fire.

5:50 a.m. Havre Public Schools announced this morning that due to severe cold and power outages, the start of classes in public schools in Havre will be delayed two hours.

A comment on the Havre Questions, Comments and Concerns Facebook group says power is out in Highland Park.

A caller told Havre Daily News before 6 a.m. that power also was out east of town, but called to say it had been restored by about 7:30 a.m.

How widespread the outages are and if other schools are delayed or cancelled was not known by Havre Daily News at 5:50 this morning.

Watch for more on this site and in today's Havre Daily News.