School will not be in session the end of this week due to Tropical Storm Helene.
On Tuesday, the school districts in Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee counties all canceled school for Thursday and Friday due to the pending storm, which is expected to make landfall Thursday night in the Big Bend or Florida Panhandle.
Florida Gateway College also canceled school for Thursday and Friday.
“The decision to close schools was made after careful consideration of the forecast and consultation with local emergency management officials,” Columbia County Superintendent Lex Carswell said in the release announcing the cancellation. “We believe this is the best course of action to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. Your safety and the safety of our students are always our top priorities. At the same time, we understand that canceling school or altering our schedule affects the entire community.”
According to the Hamilton County School District announcement, a shelter will be opening at Hamilton County High School, starting at 5 p.m. today. The shelter’s opening required the schools to be closed.
Both Hamilton County and Suwannee County added in the releases that all after-school activities, including sports games and practices, were canceled while the schools are closed.
In addition to those closures, the Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce postponed its Gateway City Craft Beer and Wine Festival, which was scheduled for Saturday at Wilson Park in downtown Lake City.
The festival will now be held Saturday, Oct. 19.
“Like many of you, we have been closely monitoring the weather, as there is a significant possibility that a hurricane could impact the North Florida area this week,” Chamber Director Joey O’Hearn said in a release. “In an abundance of caution and with safety as our top priority, the 2024 Gateway City Craft Beer and Wine Festival has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 19th.
“Although the full impact of this weather system and its aftermath remains uncertain, we are taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of our vendors, attendees, and the entire community. At the end of the day, your well-being is what matters most to us.”