Hartland Schools Close for Second Day

The Hartland School District canceled classes for the second consecutive day on Tuesday citing poor road conditions following a late February winter storm that dumped seven to 11 inches of snow on Metro Detroit.

School officials were unavailable Monday night, but have said previously that the driveability of country roads as well as in subdivisions and neighborhoods are key factors in whether to close the district following a snow storm.

Hartland Community Education activities were also canceled for a second day, but the the district operates remains open, according to an announcement posted on the district's Web site.

Snow sports

Kids out of school plus fresh powder equaled a good day at on Monday.

"Conditions are great. We are getting busier by the hour," said Rob Bruhn, spokesperson for the ski and snowboard area off Bauer Road. "We do have a good crowd. The new snow has whitened the slopes and motivated skiers to come out."

Bruhn said it was far busier than an average Monday.

"The combination of fresh snow and school being out is a recipe for a busy day," Bruhn said.

Bad roads

Still, drivers had to brave icy roads to get to their destinations, and according to the Michigan State Police-Brighton Post, many got into trouble.

Sgt. Melinda Logan said the post has been called on at least seven accidents Monday and countless "road runoffs." That doesn't compare to Sunday, though, when Logan said police responded to at least 20 accidents in Livingston County between 3 p.m.-6 p.m., when the snow started to come down hard.

"That's probably an underestimate," she said.

No serious injuries were reported, Logan said. Logan recommends drivers call 911 if they run off the road, even if nobody seems hurt.

"Let the dispatcher know where you are and your situation," she said. "That way we know what's going on."

Tons of tows

According to Jon D'Angelis, general manager for in downtown Brighton, these last two days were easily the busiest of the year. D'Angelis said he's had 10 or more trucks on the road constantly since about 5 p.m. Sunday, helping motorists out of ditches and snowbanks.

"We are around 24/7 and that's what it was last night, all through the night," D'Angelis said. "It has been pretty crazy. We have been tremendously busy."

D'Angelis said they've had just under 150 runs, "which is huge."

"It got slushy and icy. It was definitely a slippery snow, a heavy snow," he said, adding that people had little time to prepare for the storm.

"This one really snuck up on us," he said. "The last time, two weeks ago, we had so much warning a lot of people stayed home."

Winter fun

Once the roads are fully plowed and salted and getting around is a bit easier, the latest snow comes just in time for the last weekend of at Kensington Metropark.

It also bodes well for the upcoming   6-9 p.m. Thursday at Mt. Brighton. According to Carly Miller, special events manager for SELCRA, the third annual event had originally been scheduled for last Thursday, but due to unseasonably warm and rainy weather was postponed until Feb. 24 in hopes of more wintry weather.

"We got our wish," Miller said.