HIGHWAY DISTRICT 12 (September 20, 2007) – Heavy equipment operators from seven counties competed Thursday, September 20, for the right to advance to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Snow and Ice Roadeo set for the first week of October at Kentucky Speedway.

The Snow and Ice Roadeo was held at Yatesville Lake Marina, where more than 200 state highway maintenance workers drove snow plows, backhoes, and low boys while judges measured their accuracy and the amount of time every person took to complete each of the three events. Operators from all of D-12’s seven counties were eligible to compete – Lawrence, Johnson, Martin, Knott, Floyd, Pike, and Letcher.

In addition to first, second, and third place winners in each event, calculations revealed an overall individual champion as well as an overall crew champion. The crew which placed first overall was the Operations (Maintenance) Sign Crew, headed by Steve Roberts, Superintendent II. His crew members include Patrick Yates, William Justice, Chris Kender, Randy Kender, Steve Kender, Johnny Lawson, Scott Lewis, Jason Little, Andy Lovern, Ian Newsome, Wayne Scarberry, and Robby Thompson.

Overall individual champion – for the second year in a row – was Danny Smith, who works at the Phelps Maintenance Facility.

Other winners included the following:

Low Boy Competition: first place, Mark Trent, Knott County Maintenance; second place, Jerry Lowe, Operations Administration/District Office; third place, John Willis, Phelps Maintenance.

Backhoe Competition: first place, Calvin Howard, Martin County Maintenance; second place, Todd Moran, Lawrence County Maintenance; third place, Martin Wright, Lawrence County Maintenance.

Snow Plow Competition: first place, Levi Lowe, Martin County Maintenance; second place, Billy Howard, Johnson County Maintenance; third place, Martin Wright, Lawrence County Maintenance.

Winning Crew

While waiting their turns on the “big machines,” crew members teamed up for a horseshoe competition to benefit the Kentucky Employees Charitable Campaign. First place in the horseshoe event went to John Cassell and Calvin Howard of Martin County Maintenance. Second place finishers were Blake Helton and Eric Hamilton of the Allen Maintenance facility in Floyd County. A total of $140 was raised for KECC from the horseshoe event.

The annual Snow and Ice Roadeo is part of the district’s training and preparation for winter weather. Snow plow operators have to drive through a maze of cones and barrels, both forward and in reverse. Low Boy operators must back up the equipment to a loading dock with barrels on each side that creates a driving lane. They are judged on how fast and how close they get to the dock as well as whether or not they hit or knock over any of the barrels. Backhoe operators must lift a tennis ball off a pipe, move it to a box several yards away, then move it back again and perch it on the pipe.

“Each event is difficult, even for highly experienced and skilled operators,” said Darold Slone, Operations Branch Manager for Highway District 12. “It takes skill and concentration, and is a good indication of how a person will handle such equipment in a real time situation. Safety is our first priority, and the Roadeo emphasizes what it takes to be a safe heavy equipment operator. If they can complete these three events successfully, they are pretty much ready to take on winter weather.”

Forty-one businesses helped sponsor this year’s Roadeo, contributing gifts and prizes for the winners as well as each participant: Cox Auto of Paintsville, Deskins Motors, Thompson Hardware, Team Mayo, Tri-County Auto Parts, World Wide Equipment, Paul’s Auto Repair, Robinette’s Guns and Archery, Ewer’s Family Restaurant, Louisa Dollar Store, Louisa Car Care, NAPA City of Martin, Whayne Supply, RUDD Equipment, Advance Auto Parts of Louisa, Lawrence County Parks, Yatesville Lake State Park, Pamida Discount Center of Louisa, Yatesville Marina, Appco Happy Mart, John W. Clark Oil, Louisa Do it Best Hardware, Lisa’s Front Porch Restaurant, Jackson Brothers Garage, American National Insurance, Walters Mazda and Mitsubishi, Coal City Auto Parts of Williamson (WV), Eastern Telephone, Big Sandy Outfitters, Clark’s Pump and Shop, Leslie Equipment, Community Trust Bank, NAPA of Whitesburg, Brandeis Machinery, NAPA of Prestonsburg, Todd Case Trucking, NAPA of Louisa, P&A Engineering, Country Candles, SouthEast Telephone, and Childers Oil.