Town Offices Closed for Second Day

With snow still failing on Friday morning, the Merrimack Town Offices were forced to close for a second day.

Merrimack Police issued a Nixle alert on Friday morning that announced the town offices, which were tenatively scheduled to reopen at 12 noon on Friday, would remain closed until Monday morning when regular business hours would resume.

On Thursday afternoon, the Merrimack Schools, which were scheduled to reopen on Thursday following the Christmas break, announced they, too, would remain closed on Friday, giving Merrimack school kids an extra two days off. Merrimack school officials plan to open on Monday.

School Superintendent Marjorie Chiafery said Thursday she felt it was best to let the children stay home until Monday given the harsh weather and road conditions.

According to WMUR, Merrimack has received about 8.5 inches of snow thus far and is locked in bitterly cold freezing temperatures that could dip to the single digits on Friday night and feel well below zero with the windchill factor. Meanwhile, Merrimack Department of Public Works crews continue to clear town roads as residents begin the arduous task of digging out their driveways and walkways.

On Thursday evening, the Merrimack Water Department had to repair a water pipe that burst on Columbia Circle near the Daniel Webster Highway and the Merrimack Fire Department expects to have more frozen pipe calls this weekend.

With freezing temperatures that are expected to last through the weekend, American Red Cross officials in Concord are warning people to take precautions to guard against frost bite and hypothermia. They are also advising people to not let their pets be outdoors for any length of time.