‘We just roll with it’: Winter weather impacts schools and businesses across C.O, but ‘the kids love it’

However ... 'If it goes to like, April, it gets a little old,' mom says

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The icy road conditions once again closed schools and businesses across Central Oregon on Friday, but it wasn't bad news for everyone. Especially on what most kids call "snow days."

"The kids love it," Bend resident Heather Leasure said. "They wake up with squeals of delight when we tell them school's canceled."

Friday's slippery winter mix of snow, freezing rain and ice closed schools in Bend-La Pine, Redmond, Jefferson and Crook counties and Culver. COCC and OSU-Cascades also closed their campuses. Other school closures included Cascades Academy and Seven Peaks Schools.

Bend-La Pine Schools Director of Communications Scott Maben explained how the call is made: "There'll be a number of us on the phone with each other early in the morning, communicating what we're seeing around the district on those different bus routes."

"It just depends on what people are reporting. Back to the superintendent, and then in the end, he's the one that's making that decision."

The weather challenges and school closures require flexibility from parents.

"We just roll with it," Leasure said. "The weather's just ever-changing, and it's kind of fun. Like, you know, if this kind of stuff lasts for a short amount of time, it's good. If it goes to like, April, it gets a little old."

But the kids and families pay the pipe on those days off later in the school year Bend-La Pine Schools said in an email they would "designate extra school days for any emergency closures that occurred throughout the school year."

The recent challenger weather in Central Oregon is not only affecting schools, but businesses, of course. NewsChannel 21 spoke with two businesses to see how they're faring.

Leapin' Lizards in downtown Bend has been closing earlier than the usual 6 p.m.

Owner Suzy Reininger said, "It has been really pretty bad. Yeah, we've been very impacted, but we're thankful for any sales we get. Today's already started off nicely, so we're feeling like there's a turn. People are starting to venture out more."

 At Kara's Kitchenware in the Old Mill District, there's also been a notable decline in business. 

Owner Kara Hansen said, "I don't want to cut my employees because of low customer volume, because they need the paycheck and stuff as well. So we're just cleaning and doing stuff around the shop."

After closing Thursday because of freezing rain, the Redmond Airport was back in business Friday. The website flyrdm.com shows departures and arrivals throughout the day.