Thank you snow removal people...
Mission City workers getting the plow and other machinery ready to go one day before the storm.
By Rich Winter
Sitting around the office yesterday with news of a major winter storm barreling down on South Dakota and I thought it would be interesting to visit with the Mission City and Todd County snow removal people. You know, kind of get a look at what they were doing in anticipation of the first big storm of the year, and maybe see if they had any tips for the general public about how WE could assist them in their jobs.
Daniel Brave from Mission City said it always helps them to have cars off the street where possible and he reminded folks to stay clear of the back end of the snow plow because the salt/sand mixture the plow throws out has a pretty good reach to it.
Had a very nice conversation with Hugh Storm (Storm, really?), and while Storm reminded people to 'Not Crowd the Plow' he finally offered a reasonable explanation as to why giving that snow plow room is so important. Basically he said it sometimes takes the plow two or three times to get through a tough drift and there is nothing worse than having to back up but needing to gesticulate to a crowding vehicle to back the heck up. In addition, one of the reasons Storm advised people to stay off the roads when they are plugged is so that cars don't get stuck in the middle of the road. When a car gets stuck in the middle of the road, the plows have to stop and get them unstuck. While they are happy/willing to do that, the time spent unsticking someone exponentially draws time away from this most important of jobs.
Was thinking about the snow removal guys today because I woke up early and it's pretty tough out there. The roads are snow-packed, the roads are icy, they are drifting shut pretty quickly and the wind is howling with some very cold temperatures.
And yet, there are these folks out doing work so we can stumble out of bed at 10:00 a.m. and get around safely.
Mission City Crews out getting main street ship-shape before the general population wakes up.
So, as I'm early I'm watching this flurry of activity as snowplows criss-cross in front of the Tribune and I can't help but feel like I'll gip the folks in Rosebud and St. Francis for next week's story because I'm sure there are people pushing snow, dropping salt and getting things ready.
Someone in Parmelee has to be pushing snow, right?
Okreek?
Norris?
Yesterday was the most exciting day I've had in a while. I love the weather, love the enormity of it all and how that first big winter storm reminds us all that we live in a tough environment where things can get deadly if there aren't people out there, braving the cold, clearing the snow with the rare words of thank you being offered.
Yeah, they get paid, but it's cold man and ugly and tense work...So, thank you.
Just a reminder...
* Make sure to check on elders, see if they need anything, wood, groceries, a ride....Sure be nice to see some young people out volunteering to shovel snow just for the sake of making it easier for others, or even mom and dad.
* Remember there are people that slept outside last night....Be conscious of others, no matter their situation.
