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Pole Fire Causes Two Early Dismissals

EAST STROUDSBURG — Many folks in our area woke up without power Monday morning. Students at several different schools started their days in the dark, too....
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EAST STROUDSBURG -- Many folks in our area woke up without power Monday morning. Students at several different schools started their days in the dark, too.

It wasn't snow, but likely the heavy storms that went through our area that caused a pole fire in East Stroudsburg Monday morning.

MetEd officials say that's what knocked out power to nearly 3,000 homes and businesses, including four different schools in the East Stroudsburg area.

JM Hill Elementary School dismissed early. Parents waited to pick up their kids because the school in East Stroudsburg didn't have any power.

It was a tough task for parents including Wesley Rusk.

"I work at night, so when he goes to school, I sleep. So it looks like I'll go a little while without sleep. But that's OK," said Rusk.

The lights were also off at East Stroudsburg South High School. Met Ed says a pole fire knocked out power to thousands early Monday morning. The schools kept students for a couple of hours.

"However, it was getting more into the morning and we were very concerned about lunch issues," said East Stroudsburg Area School District Superintendent Sharon Laverdure.

Kindergartener Liam Rusk says he's happy to go home, where the lights are on.

"For some reason, I still have power at my house," Liam said.

Met Ed believes the weather could be to blame.

Joia Zimmerman agreed as she came to pick up her daughter.

"It was raining really hard. I was at Walmart and it was raining so loud you could hear it," said Zimmerman.

The power outage in East Stroudsburg was sporadic. While the South High School and the Pizza Hut across the street were dark, the Dunkin' Donuts just one door down had the lights on.

For some parents, this is just a frustrating way to start off the week.

"If you're working, you know you got to leave work. What am I going to do with my daughter?" said Tom Clark of East Stroudsburg.

Others plan to make the best of a rainy April day.

"Go home, bake some cookies maybe," said Zimmerman.

Officials with Met Ed said all homes and businesses that were impacted by that pole fire now have power.

School officials say even though students left early, the day still counts and won't need to be made up.

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