UPDATED at 6:30 p.m. Friday

Jackson County commissioners recently made the decision to drop the county’s travel advisory status to yellow from red, Commissioner Matt Reedy reported.

Yellow is the lowest level of local travel advisory, which means routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas.

Duane Davis, executive director of the Jackson County Emergency Management Agent, said  travel throughout the county has improved, but there still may be some areas in which travel may be hazardous.

On Friday morning, Reedy, who lives in the Freetown area, said county roads were not in good condition, but added commissioners planned to meet later in the day to discuss the travel advisory. Reedy was out plowing roads with his own truck at that time.’

The red advisory had been in place since early Thursday morning after a winter storm left behind ice- and snow-covered streets, roads and highways.

The filing deadline for the May 3 primary election  Jackson County has been extended until noon Monday because of the winter storm that moved through the area the past couple of days.

Offices in the Jackson County Courthouse and Jackson County Judicial Center in Brownstown were closed Thursday and Friday along with many businesses and industries. The filing period had been set to end at noon Friday.

The newest primary filing update shows Republican Austin Edington of Seymour filed a declaration of candidacy for county council District 4 on Wednesday. That seat is presently held by another Seymour Republican, Kari Storey.

Edington’s filing means Republicans have a candidate for all of the six countywide offices on the ballot and the four district council seats. The only race at this time pits incumbent Republican Sheriff Rick Meyer of Seymour against Shawn Minton of Seymour.

The county office closures came in part in the wake of county commissioners declaring the county’s travel status at the red warning, limiting travel to emergency management workers only.

During a warning, people are asked to refrain from all travel; comply with necessary emergency measures; cooperate with public officials and disaster service forces in executing emergency operation plans; and obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.

Davis said he thought people did an extremely good job following the red warning travel status throughout the county.

He said for the most part, people stayed home.

“That allowed city, county and state highway crews to do a better job of clearing streets and roads of the ice and the snow,” Davis said.

He estimated about 5 inches fell in the Brownstown area where he lives, and the sun was going to be the county’s friend on Friday because it would allow the salt laid down by highway crews to begin melting the snow and ice.

Davis said the agency and the American Red Cross had a warming station ready to set up at Seymour High School in case motorists had issues on Interstate 65 and needed to be housed. That station would have included food and three buses to transport people from their vehicles but did not have to be put into use, Davis said.

Rumpke Waste and Recycling suspended its services for customers in southern Indiana, including those in Jackson County, on Friday.

“Decisions about service delays are always difficult, but the safety of our team members, customers and the motoring public are our top priorities,” said Eric Curtis, region vice president. “We will make every effort to safely service our Friday customers on Saturday, but if that is not possible, we’ll collect additional material on their next scheduled service day. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work through these challenges while continuing to deliver an essential service that our community depends on.”