Mikki, yes! I remember the tornado that hit Belvidere! I grew up in Rockford! Actually, North Park, north of Loves Park.... Graduated from Harlem High in '76.

At the time of that tornado, I was at my Grandma's house and we were headed to the basement, but I had left some library books in the living room. She had two large flat windows in the living room. I just remember it looking like the house was "breathing". To this day, I can remember the glass bending and bowing... It was the strangest thing I'd ever seen. Even to this day... it fascinates me!

Since Rockford is in a natural "valley", Freeport and Belvidere always took the brunt of the damage.

Its cool to see someone from my old stomping grounds on this site. If you're really close to my age, do you remember "oil cloths" at lunchtime? Just curious...

This news bit is on the city council information website- It would be nice if the Gazette would run a story on this and why this landlord has a building with no working furnaces.

Order to Vacate 217-219 East Racine Street (from Kelly Lee, Neighborhood Development Specialist)
On 1-15-09 at 4:00 pm, Neighborhood Services received a call from a Building Inspector in the Community Development Department. The Building Inspector had responded to 217-219 East Racine Street at the request of the Janesville Fire Department. The fire department was investigating a possible natural gas leak. The fire department determined that there was no gas leak; however, found both apartments to be without working furnaces. At 5:00 pm, Property Maintenance Inspectors posted both apartments Unfit for Human Habitation due to the lack of a working furnace. The Janesville Police Department issued emergency vouchers for both families, as they were unable to secure other housing. The American Red Cross was contacted; however, a message from the answering service did not reach Red Cross Personnel until late in the evening. Two phone messages were left for the landlord, with no results. The outside temperature was -10 degrees. Displaced were two adults who reside in 217 E Racine Street and two adults and three children (11, 3, and three weeks) who reside at 219 E Racine Street. Property Maintenance Inspectors will continue to contact the building owner.

No, it is not in the teacher's contract that they can't call school the night before..It's Dr. Everett's choice..it was in an article a few days ago..

Just like it was his choice to use April 13th as a make-up day, which stinks for parents that have plans for spring break!

no one answered my question from yesterday
Is it true that it is written in the school district contract that school can not be declared closed the night before? That the decision can not be made until morning?
I thought i had read that somewhere

Son went to bed before our he knew school was cancelled, we knew. He was up at six getting ready. When we told him he was peeved that we knew last night and he didn't! It wouldn't be so funny but he tried to pull this prank on his sister Wednesday night and I let her in on the joke. Time to ruin his gaming day with a list of chores!

John Doe- it makes a HUGE difference to some people when they finally make the announcement. Some parents HAVE to work and they need proper time to make arrangements for their kids. C`mon, what don`t you get about that?

spikesmom,gandy,molly,et al...what difference does it make WHEN they announce the closing?
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You should look up the word CONTINGENCY in the dictionary.
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Have a CONTINGENCY plan in place and it won't matter what time they decide.
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It will serve you well in life.
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Take responsibility for things that affect you.

Yes they could. But they would be denied AGAIN.
The DPI doesn't forgive shortsightedness in planning, such as the JSD continues to exhibit year after year.

Can't the school district apply to the Department of Instruction (DPI) to forgive these days for make-up due to the nature of the cancellation?

Back when I was in school we had three snow days built into the school calendar and never had to have make-up days. Right now we have two days the kids have to make up, I'll be happy to send mine when the weather isn't deadly.

Janesville will wait till 6am to let us know if there is school or not. Cause The superindendent is an idiot. As for making up all these days that we will have to make up, why do we have too? Did Janesville not learn nothing from last year? I thought we got rid of Early Release for part of this reason. It's about time the school system start adding in snow days already into the school schedual so we don't have to make up days since every year is getting worse and we do live in wisconsin.

It's a shame that Janesville can't announce the closing of schools sooner. There are probably lots of people losing sleep right now hoping to hear confirmation of Friday's school closing. When the closing is due to the cold rather than the snow, the decision should be made and announced much more quickly than the current process followed by Janesville.

Once again, it's ridiculous that Janesville is going to again wait until the last minute to most likely cancel school tomorrow. What do they think will happen if they made the announcement tonight? That the weather will somehow change and be 70 tomorrow? Give me a break. Even Beloit made their announcement tonight. If they were to have school tomorrow they have to know that many kids won't be attending anyway. So then those kids get penalized for missing a day of school. Yes this is WI and we realize that we get bad weather in winter. But it's dangerous to be outside and the powers that be should be sympathetic to that. Cancel classes already!!!

Usaret...Please don't condemn the whole, because of a few. Going from a car into a building in under 2 minutes is very different than having to walk more than a block in this weather. We have more under priviledged children in this community than we do pampered children.

Janesville parents: Don't fret over this. There is no way this district will have school tomorrow. Even Beloit and Beloit Turner schools have now announced that they will remain closed. For Janesville school administrators to hold classes tomorrow would be to welcome the rage of parents onto one's doorsteps. It is not going to happen. Put your no-school plans in place and tell the kids to enjoy their extra-long weekend safe and warm inside.

If they do close the schools Friday because it is too cold, how many of the students will you find at the Mall? Too Cold for school but not to go to the Mall.
The pre-schools and elementary schools should close but middle (Maybe) and senior high can stay open.

FYI.. Janesville St. Pat's just closed, lets hope the rest soon wise up.

My kids won't be at school tomorrow, I just don't understand why JSD always waits until 4:48 a.m. to call it. The weather isn't changing. I worry about all the kids who for one reason or another will have to go to school if it isn't cancelled. And I agree, anyone who lets their child out to play in this is an idiot. Those are the same parents who will send kids off to school so they can go back to bed and not be bothered.

ok nobody is going to like my comment but here it goes anyways , when you can not breath walking from your house to the car , you should notsend you kid to school .... but as far as i can see it , the law states that the kids have to go to school 180 days a year ,,,, but as for you or me if you send your child out side in this mess to play , it is child abuse , but since the schools do not liek to call off school when need be that is not child abuse ....what happen to the rights of the parents .... i already told my son he did not have to got to school tomorrow even if there is school , because he has to catch the bus at 6:30 am .... and there is no wind proection at the bus stop ,,,,,, i want my son safe ,,,,, i have blankets in my car incase something happens ,,,,, and i do no believe the buses have that option if the bus breaks down ,,,,, wake up people ,,,,, youcan make a chioce those are your children ,,,,,, and if you send then out there in this and something happens it is going to be your fault , not the schools

bryn:
That's because Testeriffic made them stay open. Testerrific is going to teach a class on how, "Kids today are coddled, and babied, and emasculated by soccer moms." I think I will skip work and drive to Janesville so I can sneak into that class. *s*

bryn...you have the option to keep the kids home, and i would if i were you. Don't let the bullies make your children go out in this garbage. I kept my kindergardener home on Wednesday too because of the cold. There is no reason to be out in this if you don't absolutely have to be.

I just checked again and Janesville is the only school in the area that has NOT closed yet.

It has been on the TV all evening. All schools are indeed closed tomorrow. Enjoy those zzzzzz's.

Sorry, meant "Notify" Sure wish this had spellcheck.

I always wondered why JSD or the Gazette doesn't have am email or texting system in place to notiry people like others do?

I would also like to mention some cold weather tipe, sorry for soulding like lecturing, but having suffered frostbite before, I thought I'd share.
Never rub your skin if it gets very cold! If you are suffering from excessive cold or frostbite, it's actually ice crystals forming in the surface skin, and it can actually cause MORE damage by rubbing it. The best way to warm up 'freezing' hands is to put them in your armpits or wrap in warm towels, NOT hot water though, that can thaw the crystals too fast also causing damage.

Better yet, stay inside. We are! LOL

tater, I might be a mean person but I think that even if there is no school the next day, why tell the kids? LOL ! Let them go to bed early anyway ! Dont know about you ,but I enjoy quiet before I go to bed ! No problem waking up the next day, just let me sleep the night before !

So, is there or is there not school tomorrow? My kids want to know whether they can stay up late tonight! And sleeping in is better than waking up and trying to go back to sleep. One of them is going bowling tonight regardless, but it sure would be nice to know! Milwaukee and all the small towns around here posted closings hours ago. Why does it take Janesville so long??

My kids are home tomorrow as well. They go to Beloit Turner. I actually kept my 5 year old home from school last Monday because I couldn't find her hat anywhere. I wasn't sending her out to the bus without one. It was in the van. Go figure...lol.

I tried the "uphill both ways" with my kids, it didn't work. My dad still lives in the house I grew up in and it's only five blocks from the elementary school. We live a block away from Dad but the kids ride the bus. No sidewalks and lots of truck traffic here. I'm glad they are home again tomorrow. Why chance it. Both are in highschool and are missing finals. They can make them up. I'll send them on a Saturday if neccesary.

Txngrl: Many of the childrearing mistakes you wrote about would still be happening if the law didn't step in and fine moms and dads for those errors. Also, some of you parents on here need to lighten up. Testerrific is just playing with you guys; don't be so darn serious that you miss the humor. And, by the way, do any of you perfect parents have any idea how many little soccer kids are taken to emergency rooms yearly after taking a soccer ball or kick to the noggin? Thousands! Better call the coach now and pull your child out of the sport. And, don't even get me started on injuries incurred while playing baseball or hockey!

camper61 that was cool!! Love Floyd. Anyways, id like to see Mr. Gore come and live here when its bone chillin, lung burning cold here and feed us his "global warming" B.S. Its a proven fact that the Earth is nearing the end of its 12'000 year "warm" period and is in line for another 100'000 years of ice. Go to www.iceagenow.com

In the late 70's, I had to walk to Van Buren in this weather. Mrs. Koppleman thawed out my frozen snot with her cigarette lighter.

Did anyone happen to see the Superintendent from Beaver Dam? I don't know who was worse, him for not calling off school or the people who sent their kids to school today. I think the guy shouldn't keep his job. I don't think he cares about the students at all. Also, what's up with the schools delaying school tomorrow for 2 hours? The warning is until tomorrow afternoon!

gmao3...remember that tornado that hit Belvidere, what was it, back in '64?
I met a guy who lived through it. I lived in Rockford and he was homeless, with one arm. Turns out, he was in one of the buses that was hit by that tornado, and was sucked out. That's apparently why now, if there is a tornado warning, they keep the kids until the warning subsides.
Want to see how lax attitudes were towards tornadoes? Watch Places In the Heart.

For all of you who say our kids are pampered now...you've got it wrong! The parents are smarter, that's the difference. "Way back when" parents would put their kids in the car unbuckled, let the babies gnaw on chicken bones to teethe, give whiskey to their sick children, and yes...let them walk to school in 30 below temperatures without batting an eye. So it's not that we now "pamper" or "coddle" our children, it's that we've learned from the mistakes of our parents and grandparents!

OMG... I think Test... was from my era. If you've seen "A Christmas Story" that was US!!! My mom would dress us up like human marshmallows! We had so many danged layers, it would take us 15 minutes to get out of it all! We always walked to school. Mom didn't have a car.

One year, there were tornados one county away. It was spring, but wet and rainy... My sister and I put on our raincoats and those rubber boots that went up to our knees. We only had 3 TV stations and Mom didn't turn on the TV or radios in the morning, too hectic she said. So she said, "Run"... there we were, trying to run to school in rubber boots and wind that could knock a house down. We got there just in time to get tossed into the hallway with our heads between our knees waiting for the tornadoes to go through.

Life is different now... I have grandchildren. Would I want them to have to experience what I had to endure? well, maybe, just once... but really, I'd rather just SHARE my hard life stories than have them go through it.

But Test... You slay me!!!

I am glad to see that the school is occasionaly actually putting the child first. (Wasn't that a motto flung around Janesville schools and others?) I'm surprised that people aren't more outraged at the magic number of days that school must be in session which is creating the situation where safety is discounted over make up days. Who are the idiots that are putting school administrators in this no win position? Gee, is it really true that a student in school 170 days knows nothing, but one in school 180 days knows everything!?!?!
Also, schools and teachers ARE NOT YOUR BABYSITTERS! You decided to have kids, then grow up and make sure you have arrangements for them if they are sick or if school is cancelled. I was a single, working mom and I know it's not easy. BUT having my children was my choice and it was up to me to make sure they were taken care of.

I saw a girl yesterday (after DRIVING my kid to school)she had no hat,no gloves and her skin tight coat was unzipped! Is this what parenting has come to ? Work or family ? Pay bills or care for your child ? This is sick,in my mind.I use to have a job that required me to be there at 6 am(obviously well before school starts)What are employers thinking? That THEY are more important than ones family? I may be just a paper carrier,but Im so thankful I am able to be there for my kids when they need me ! Walking to school on a day like to today is...well...deadly ! I would have driven my kids to school today,but,there are so many parents who are unable to thanks to their jobs(or their own irresponsibility).

I would much rather have my kids make up school days than be subject to these temperatures. I know of many children that have no choice but to walk. When I was in school ( '70's- '80's ) we always had three snow days built into the school year. Hello, this is Wisconsin.

Wow...I didn't know the gazette was as bad as youtube...If you don't have something nice to say don't say it at all...The comments are for saying stuff like "O man that's cold" or "Brrr" not for this dumb 5 year old argument stuff....By the Way This is my comment...Brrr that's cold Good Old Wisconsin though

Test you should have carried more bricks, because you are on brick short. Lighten up it is only cold weather, anyway if you don't have children in school it is none of your business.

Is it true that it is written in the school district contract that school can not be declared closed the night before? That the decision can not be made until morning?

Well, I just have to say is, after a long day at work y'all have entertained me unbelievably. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the outright giggles... I greatly appreciate it.

Why back when I was a kid I had to walk to school uphill both ways! Yes Both ways. The tectonic plates in our neighborhood were so unstable that we would have earthquakes while I was in class and then the landscape was all changed after the quakes! That's the way it was and we liked it!

UCLAGIRL15...you, as well as others, say "times have changed". TIMES HAVE CHANGED!!! TIMES HAVE CHANGED!! Ohhhh, Good God, you are like heartless harpies droning upon my eardrums. HAVE times changed??? NO! Soccer Moms have emerged. That is the only difference. Do you think my Mother cared if I got a little bit of a chill when I walked to school with those bricks? Heck no!! She knew a MAN was emerging from that plight. And I grew up just fine. Kids today are coddled, and babied, and emasculated by soccer moms like yourself. And let's not even get started with the NAMES these poor kids are given these days. I hope your son is not named TYLER, or CHANDLER, or DEWAYNE. What ever happened to good old fashioned names like David, or Jerry, or Wayne? Oy vey, we are doomed as a society, and the downfall starts with schools closing when it is simply a little chilly outside!!!!!!

Test, you're hilarious.
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I went to one of them thar Catholic Schools, in Illinois, in the woods, out in the middle of nowhere. The nuns would hide in the dark recesses of the hallways and seemed to always be lurking there....
I still have nightmares of showing up at work in a plaid skirt and vest.
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I just don't get it. I remember the blizzard of '79, going outside and playing in the snow as kids until our boogers froze.
Now I can barely go out to the car without whining and complaining.

For those of you saying that students should have to attend school when the temperature is below zero and the wind chill even worse, what is your problem. I’m sorry that if back in the stone ages you had to walk 20 miles to school when it was 40 below up hill both ways with no shoes. But, seriously times have changed as other smart users have already stated. Did you ever stop to think of the less fortunate children who can’t afford a warm coat or gloves? When there is a wind chill WARNING, it means it’s to cold for anyone to be out. So stop complaining that kids these days are pampered! Or better yet how about you stand out at the bus stop for 10 or 20 minutes and let us know how you feel!! I for one am glad the school districts actually care for the safety of the students!!

Uh - oh, think I pissed him off! :-0 I'm shakin' in my boots! LOL

"All in all you're just another brick in the wall.
Wrong, Guess again!
Wrong, Guess again!
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding.
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"
The Wall by Pink Floyd

Testerrific: Actually, I am only joking. You sound like a fun person. Keep comin' back!

Testerrific: I think you are a few bricks short.

I am glad I could all make you laugh. I am a clown...the crying on the inside kind I guess....

I guess staying inside all day is driving him crazy...sheesh. I wish I could have a imagination like that. It has been good to laugh today and the story has gotten good, how about a sequell?

TWERP13 said this "I remeber the blizzard of 79 very well. I was sick and we had no power for a week. We lived in the country and were smart enough to have prepared for the storm. I also remember hearing about a kid who had to have their toes amputated because of being stuck outside in freezing temps, I believe if I remeber right he was walking home from school, but I don't remeber where it happened.".....But what TWERP13 did not include in the story was THE ENDING. It goes like this...YEARS LATER, a young couple were parked in a car at "make out point" and there was an announcement on the radio that everyone should go home immediately, because there was a lunatic loose in the area who had died of frostbite years earlier. The kids immediately sped home, and when the boy went to open the door for his young and pert girlfriend....THERE WAS A BLOODY, FROSTBITTEN HOOK HANGING FROM HER PASSENGER SIDE DOOR!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!! On a side note, kids should have to go to school if it is cold out. Blizzards are another story.

twerp13- crazy Tes- is totally making up crazy stuff..

mickie: how about IT ? since no prefernce waws given LOL

sorry it should say in to it

She/He?

just one question, what the heck did that brick building look like? Were the bricks all the same color or was it a hodge podge mess of different types of bricks? Are there any pics of the school I would love to have seen it ...LOL By the way who was the builder? if it came crumbling down just by a nuns habbit falling inot then I sure would thik it would be grounds for a law suit, and what about the code dept how did they ever pass a inspection if the building was so shoddy?

MICKIE...I am getting tired of you referring to me as "he/she". It is time to start referring to me correctly...how dare you...

"Cathedral of Fear"..I am gonna wet myself..LOL.LOL.LOL

mommyopes..see, test reads something negative into everyone's post. Did you imply he was a criminal? NO! So, one thing I'd like to know, is, why does this "religous scholar" feel the need to bring up the "ethnic" statement? Who really cares?

and "damn brick dangerous"...

I graduated in 1988 and yes we had a occasional snow day. I remeber the blizzard of 79 very well. I was sick and we had no power for a week. We lived in the country and were smart enough to have prepared for the storm. I also remember hearing about a kid who had to have their toes amputated because of being stuck outside in freezing temps, I believe if I remeber right he was walking home from school, but I don't remeber where it happened. That story has stayed with me my entire life. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. If we can prevent just one tragedy from happening, then a snow/cold day is well worth it.

ok...Its final...He/she is crazy...

It's good the school district called off school. Even if parents send hats and mittens with their children to school, children don't always wear them. They don't understand how dangerous this cold can be.

MOMMYOPES, it is none of your business where I went to school, but since you asked, I would assume you remember "St. Jesus' School of Jesus and Cathedral Of Fear" on the corner of Rockport Road and Center Ave. Of course, that klutzy nun demolished it when she tripped, and now that location has been rebuilt and is known as BAD BRAD'S. And please, DO NOT MAKE A MOCKERY OF THIS IN REGARDS TO MY HAVING TO CARRY BETWEEN 3 AND 5 BRICKS TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY, DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT I GOT DETENTION OR NOT!!!! If I had to bring a few bricks to school, it was no big deal. There were some...well, shall I say "ethnic types"...who lived down the street who always had a healthy supply of bricks for an overinflated, yet supply-demand type, price. So I was never "in need" of bricks, my friend. Let's just say those nice folks got me through the tough times. Now, MOMMYOPES, why not concentrate on more important things, like the chill in the air, and stop trying to allege that I had any criminal affiliations with those people that gave me bricks in my time of need. For shame on you, sir. FOR SHAME!!!

No, just one giant hill. The walk down was usually all ice so you'd just fall all the way down to school. Walking up, you'd just crawl.

Test must be mad and at a loss for words. He was entertaining though. Thanks for the good laugh :)

There's been at least half a dozen bad weather stories in the last couple of days without any gloating remarks from NVgrf. Could that be the result of some New Year's resolution? Perhaps he's turned over a new leaf? If so, we'll all miss his barbs, I'm sure.

LOL... what next did you also have to walk both ways up hill?

i dont believe kids have it easy today. they have it different, and maybe better, but not 'easy'. we had it better than our parents who had it better than theirs, but the fact is kids have way dift worries and issues than we did, whether we graduated in 95, 85, or 75. and...if kids DO have it easier...well we dont really have anyone to blame but ourselves.

Testeriffic- Obviously, you are very good with words..Or you have a fantastic dictionary..But honestly, you are amusing the way you speak. Or manic... I can`t, and really don`t care to figure it out. But thank you, for giving me a crying laugh today.. The mere point of this discussion was that it is DANG COLD. I graduated in the very early 80`s.. Yes, we had snow days..No we did not have to make days up. These days the schools do, so if weather in Wisconsin is a problem, then keep the kids home. I would hate to hear about a young child freezing, or having fingers amputated.. Why? Becasue there are plenty of parents who are either too ignorant, or too caught up in their busy schedules to see how their kids are dressed..
PS. I hope that Nunn was ok...LOL

mickie: thanks for the support and any one else out there who knows what it is like to not be a perfect speller.
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Now back on topic of it being cold out there... have you noticed that 2 men have already died this year due to the COLD ? I am sorry, but if the wind chill is a -30 to -40 I think it is a good idea just to stay inside, no matter if you a kid or adult. Yes some people do need to get to work and have to go out in it (that is if the car starts) but for anyone who absolutly dosn't have to be outside,they should stay inside. It is advice that the sheriffs department, health officials and news media are stressing to people. How many people will have to die befor this finaly sinks in...hey it is extremely cold outside I need to stay home?

Good thing we had Moon Boots though. Those were a great invention. As soon as they got wet, your feet weighed 20lbs a piece.

OMG...LOL!!!

Now I'm dyin' here. I've never laughed so hard all by myself!!

Ya, what a pain carrying a load of concrete on your head. Made your neck sore pretty fast.

They only had one week off because the kids were forced to push wheelbarrows full to school!!!

testerrific - you still didn't answer the question of where you went to school and had to carry bricks everyday. What I want to know is, did you have a brick factory in your backyard or did you have to detour to pick up the bricks and then walk to school?
I remember snow days and at least one day where school cancelled due to the cold.
Also, you very much contradict yourself. Commenting on how others should be decent when most of your comments are anything BUT decent.

Do I see a connection here...brick, concrete? LOL (brickboy! good one!)

Mickie, I am not trying to be funny in the least. I am trying to make cogent points. You can mock me all you want for having been forced to carry bricks to school and such, but THAT school stood tall and proud for many years, until it collapsed in 1986 when an absentminded nun tripped on an unblessed Eucharist that had fallen from the delivery truck and slammed her habit into the building's foundation and flattened that school like a house of cards. But, as the religious scholar that I now consider myself, I have realized that the "carrying of the bricks" was my penance, and the destruction of the building was my foundation for salvation. On a side note, when that absentminded nun toppled the church/school, the kids didn't have to go to school for a whole week after that catastrophe, and it was the middle of May! No snow days!!!!!

sorry...maYbe

I remember walking to school in this and having your nose hairs freeze in about 10 seconds flat. Or not drying your hair all the way and having it turn into concrete. Classic.

Mabe if all jerks live in trailer homes they are called "trailer park jerks"...

Who cares about spell check when we got "brick girl/boy"..??? Twerp13 you are totally forgiven, don`t sweat that small stuff!

LOL!!!

Sorry my postings never had the red dotted lines as I post. Maybe I have a different version of a program for my operating system. Wish I did have auto spell check like that , it would help, but I don't. Also sometimes my keys stick and I am sure that is the cause of many of my mis spellings.
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If you know how I can get the Gazettes site to spell check for me let me know.

--brick burns on my inner thighs-- OMG, I am dying here..Not a dry eye in the house..

mickie..lol

The spell-check is built in on Gazette's site. When you see the red line under a word, right-click the word and it will show you correct spellings for close matches.

test..let's see, how far away is your mailbox? I bet not as far as mine! If you're "silly" enough to go out without your coat and admit it, it just makes you look..."silly". I wasn't mocking you and Mickie wasn't being judgemenal, so, I'm not sure where your coming from. I think your last post made you look childish.

careful Upnorth-- your now on his/hers "hit brick list too"..Wow, Testerrific- judgemental? Anger? You seem to be all of what you are trying to spout off about.. Yet i can`t quite figure out what you are trying to say. But you are funny!

I didn't carry bricks to school. I had to build the wall first and push it.
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A *mansard*? Isn't that a roof?

beeferer: sorry I don't use word or any spell check programs before typing here. I just get on and say what is on my mind, without going from one program to another. Besides I thought everyone was giving up on the spelling police.

UPNORTHWI...have you ever heard of the concept of "Building Your School As You Go Along...Brick By Brick...Lesson By Lesson"??? My friend, it was Mr. James Earl Carter's first action when inaugurated in 1977 that activated this social policy. I am sorry you do not remember it. You can try to mock me all you wish, UPNORTHWI, but I still have the brick burns on my inner thighs to prove my tale of woe. On another note, to get back to the subject at hand, I just went out to get my mail, and it was very cold outside. I wasn't even wearing a coat. WAHHHH WAHHH WAHHHH. I hope I get to stay home from school today. Oh wait, I am NOT IN SCHOOL!!!! SO THERE, UPNORTHWI. And to all the other SOFT KIDS who are reading this message board.

Testerrific- it appears you could be on something..Higher Power? Yadda, yadda...Its bitterly cold outside, thats all.. All that Forrest Gump talk about carrying bricks etc.. was FUNNY.

I graduated in the early 70's. We didn't have the luxury to be driven to school. We took the bus to and from school. No had no snow days. In the winter we froze in the classrooms and sweated in the summer. We learned to adapted,overcome, and get along. Kids, nowadays, do have it easy, everything is given to them. We had to work for what we got.

MICKIE...You don't know me...you don't know me. That is a judgmental thing you just said, and judgment should be left to a higher power, and I think judgmental people like you are jerks who probably live in a trailer or something. I am not sure where your anger comes from, but I would suggest you seek therapy outside of an anonymous message board. Good Lord, is it POSSIBLE to converse on a small town message board without it always bottoming out to the lowest common denominators? People, let's please be decent.

"carry 5 bricks to school"...LOL..

test..I'm sorry, but it is not just "chilly" outside, it's down right dangerously cold. I just can't believe some people.....

testerrific is not in touch anymore...what about kids with asthma? I know how my chest feels in this cold, my daughter has asthma and we aren't leaving the house today. I'd like to know where test grew up that in 1979 he carried bricks to school to help build it? He did say WE didn't get a day off. I graduated in '85, and YES, we did have snow days back then too!! I think if parents would allow to let their kids walk to school in sub-zero weather they should have their heads examined...no matter what era they lived in!

TWERP, all I can say is that we are on the same wavelength here. I am glad to hear your daughter is working on her Egypt project instead of watching cartoons on her "day off". God help me, I remember those days!!! Good for you, sir!!!! But I don't think you can just have "snow days" when it is chilly because you saw one kid walking around without a coat on!!!! I mean, most kids have coats on, and we live in a DEMOCRACY where the majority rules...and the majority of kids have coats on...at least from what I am told. So if kids don't have coats on, maybe those kids should just STAY HOME!!!! But kids with coats should have to go to school. Heck, in my day, if you didn't wear a coat to school in January, not only did you still have to go to school, you got detention, and had to bring FIVE bricks to school for a whole week, snow or shine!!!!! But on a more positive note, please let us all know how the Egypt project goes for your son. I always say, kids need to know about Africa too!!!!!

Testerrific..OMG- "chill out".. If you have kids you would be one of those parents shoving your child out the door in flip flops in this type of weather yelling- "WHEN I WAS A KID WE DIDNT HAVE SHOES, SO TUFF IT OUT"..You are exactly the type of "parent example" for officials to keep the schools closed...

Hey twerp13-
When you see the little red dotted lines in your message prior to posting, they are telling you that you misspelled some words- in your case 13. I find it ironic that in a discussion about kids getting their education you mention in a positive way that you are in favor of closing schools and denying kids education for a day. They must have been lenient with snow days when you were a kid.

I agree if at all possible to study with them for part of the day and not to let them sit in front of the tv or computer all day. In fact as I type my daughter is working on her Egypt project and I am here to help when she needs it. We always make good use of these snow/cold days.
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Testerific, who cares how it use to be...thank god someone realized that kids need to be safe at home instead of out in the potentialy killing cold. Have a heart for crying out loud. I wish as a kid I could have had more snowdays too, but we didn't so get over it.

Kids today are not pampered, those of us that had stayed home moms were. They made us hot breakfasts on days like this, made sure we have two pairs of mittens and socks on, sweaters, coats, hat, scraves, by the time we left the house we were sweating underneath all those levels. And when the bus broke down going to school on the way to school, we were glad that we were dressed like that. Today many students, parents are gone for the day, before school starts, they fix their own lunches, get their own cold breakfast, maybe has to get a little brother or sister ready beside themselves, and then walk to school. Kids will forget hats, mittens, because they are worrying about being late. Other families are in hard times, they couldn't afford boots for everyone this year, maybe the coats aren't warm enough, and there isn't enough gas to get the old car going to drive the kids. It is much safer to call off schools. I appreciate the Evansville School District,sending home letters informing of their plans today and on Friday and what would happen if we need to make up any days. We need to think about the safety of the children instead of what it was like when we were kids. Oh yes I remember the blizzard of 79, it was so bad that I couldn't get to my home on A for three days. We haven't seen anything like that for a long time. So chill out or grab another blanket and enjoy a day at home with a good book , hot cocca
or coffee, and thank God we don't experience hurricanes and wildfires. Stay Warm everyone

yeah I saw a girl yesterday get dropped off at Edison with NO COAT and short sleaves on. Also a few kids are still wearing SHORTS. come on parents what the heck are you thinking ????
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I am sooo glad they cancelled school today. I know of many kids that have to walk and it wouldn't take long for them to have gotten frostbite in these cold temps. I am suprised Janesville had to wait so long to actualy cancell school though. Albany had it right to cancell yesterday afternoon. After all it dosn't take a genius to see that deadly forcasted temps were on the way and that it was not a situtation a child should be going out into. I mean the Gazette and weather channel and everybody else knew that these were extreemly cold temps coming our way...but no JSD thinks it knows better and always takes a wait and see attitude instead of being proactive.
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I only hope that they make sure to schedual the make up days so that they are not on a Saturday again this year. What a wasted day those were, especially for the Middle and High schoolers who only attended for 2 hours.
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Stay safe and warm everyone

MOCO...you appear to be an elitist, but you are in fact a Mansard. When I was a kid, I used to walk 15 blocks to the bus stop. Yes, yes, I guess I am old and stuff, but it didn't make those bricks that I was carrying any lighter. Yes, yes, I went to a school that was being built EVEN AS WE WERE BEING EDUCATED, and we were required a bring 3 bricks to school with us EVERY DAY...RAIN OR SHINE!!!!!!! So "feh" to you, as my Turkish Grandmother used to say in Barthelonian French. I just think kids today are SOFT...SOFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And any parent that allows their kid to stay home from a day of formal education because it is "chilly outside" should at least tutor them at the kitchen table. Tutor them in whatever you want, folks!! But don't let them get away with a "Day Off" from school!!! Just keep in mind, some day, they will be Janesville adults, and will someday contribute to the GazetteExtra message boards, or someday become topless dancers, or someday run for City Council...or maybe, SOMEDAY become President of the United States of America!!!!!

Unfortunately many kids wake up, dress, eat breakfast, and get to school on their own these days with no or little parent involvement.

Good to see testerrific with his "When I was a kid..............". Shut up, the days are easy to make up.

I don't know how old you are but I would be willing to bet you are old enough to remember that there used to be many more stay at home moms that took their kids to school. If that is the case you should know that today is different and parents rely on kids waiting for public transportation or letting their kids walk 10 blocks. In these temperatures frostbite happens in a matter of minutes.

You are obviously one that does not deal with change very well. I would also say that you are one of those "well if it is good enough for me then it should be good enough for you" type of people.

Good to see all the ignorance in this world, it gives the rest of us with a brain something to laugh at.

Well now that I've wasted time and energy on someone who isn't worth wasting it on I'll go.

you're right I shouldn't be in disbelief. I guess I am just naive about somethings. I just think that because I take care of my kids and watch out for them I think all parents do. But you're right they don't.

CIM...there is no need to get fascist here...we are just discussing snow days...take a chill pill, Phil....

Should just cancel Spring Break now.

All I know is, when I was in the Janesville School System, it took a NUCLEAR ATTACK to even consider a "snow day". I remember one particular January day in 1979, when three stupid idiots died whilst trying to snowblow a cornfield in sub-zero temperatures, and WE STILL DID NOT GET A DAY OFF FROM SCHOOL...not even out of respect of those idiot knuckleheads who died a dumb Southern Wisconsinesque Wintry death. I mean, that is COLD baby!!!!! Kids today really are pampered, I swear to God in HEAVEN!! NO WONDER we have to constantly read articles in the Janesville Gazette about the dilemma of "make up days" in our schools, and how they will fit them in. I have an idea of how to fit them in...GO TO SCHOOL IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOU WUSSIES!!! I sure wished I didn't have to go to school back in the day because it was cold outside. And our school's even had heat and stuff back then too!!! That is why kids today are SOFT...SOFT I TELLS YA!!!!!!!

tom - you are in disbelief? Some of these parents cant take care of themselves, let alone kids. It shouldn't surprise you. Stupdity is not a cause to not permit reproduction.

I have a 9 yr old child. When I give her a ride to school I can't believe the way some of the elmentary childern are dressed. One of the crossing guards only had a coat on yesterday after school - no hat or gloves. I can't believe the parents or the school would let a child out in this cold dressed like that. What do parents think when getting their child ready for school in this weather. I am in disbelief.

Keep the kids safe.. Too many foolish parents out there, these days can be made up. So I hope they keep the schools closed!