Georgia sheriff cancels Valentine's Day due to bad weather

Sheriff cancels Valentine's Day due to weather?

Sheriff Scott Berry, Chief Deputy Lee Weems explain decision

A Georgia sheriff has taken to Facebook to declare that the men in his town are getting a free pass on Valentine’s Day this year due to the bad weather.

Sheriff Scott Berry in Oconee County announced he was canceling the holiday after an ice storm slammed Georgia on Wednesday.

“The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office announces that Valentine’s Day has been CANCELLED from a line North of I-16 to the Georgia/Tennessee border,” the post says. “Men who live in the designated ‘NO VALENTINES DAY ZONE’ are exempt from having to run out and buy lottery scratchers and Hershey bars from the corner stores until February 18, 2014, due to ice, snow, freezing rain.”

Berry told Fox News’ Jenna Lee Friday he decided to do so after he noticed how many stores were closed after the storm.

Berry’s Chief Deputy Lee Weems said when Berry told him his plan he wasn’t surprised because he is used to Berry’s “hijinks,” but he was surprised how much attention it has received.

Berry said that even though the weather in Georgia was better Friday, men still should get a pass until Tuesday so they can play catch up.

“We’ve got to give these guys a chance,” he said.

Weems said the sheriff’s department will not actually enforce the ban by physically stopping someone from purchasing Valentine’s Day items.

In fact, Berry said he is not following his own decree.

“I may have written the proclamation but I am not stupid enough to go by it,” he said. “Yes, Valentine’s Day’s covered at my house.”

Berry’s Facebook post was shared more than 1,500 times. However, it has angered some in other states, including a man who called the sheriff's office Friday from a Michigan area code to protest the decision.

The Associated Press contributed to this report