We will apparently get to test the new Saturday school plan in Watauga, as schools here are closed as the area iced over with a mix of rain, freezing on every surface, and sleet. Schools across the High Country closed, with Foothills and even Piedmont schools delaying or cancelling. The icy weather began in the early morning hours, and reports are that roads are extremely slick, especially secondary roads, with the mix of frozen precipitation.  Best advice—don’t go unless you absolutely have to.  So far, few power outages are reported—the first power lost around Lenoir— but with a quarter inch of ice predicted to coat everything, more of us may experience power outages.  Area utility companies are on high alert and crews are out working.