Wednesday, February 4, 2026
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SNOWPLOW DRIVERS clear a path for the county
Text and Photos By MAKSYM HART Staff Writer
Snowfall may look peaceful from a window, but for the Kosciusko County Highway Department, winter weather means long hours, constant monitoring and carefully coordinated work to keep hundreds of miles of county roads passable . Drivers, foremen and support staff are watching forecasts, tracking wind direction and adjusting routes in response to changing conditions, especially during storms that linger or combine snow with bitter cold . “This stuff doesn’t just happen on autopilot,” said David Jackson, a road foreman with the department . “We’re watching the weather all day, every day, and making decisions based on how long a storm’s expected to last, how strong the wind is and what temperatures are doing .” During active winter events, county plow drivers commonly work 12-hour shifts, often starting before dawn on days when weather is rough . Crews aim to limit workdays to that length when possible, but conditions sometimes demand extended coverage . Unlike state highway operations, the county does not maintain 24-hour rotating plow crews . Instead, each truck is assigned a single driver responsible for a defined route . Each route can cover more than 50 miles of roadway, and a full run may take more than eight hours to complete during heavy snow, Jackson said . Because of that, drivers are rarely pulled off their routes unless there is an emergency .
AN EYE ON THE SKIES — David Jackson, road foreman for the Kosciusko County Highway Department, points to National Weather Service data on his computer while explaining how forecasts, wind direction “If someone calls about a slick road, the answer is usually that the driver is already on the route and will get there,” Jackson said . “Every road, every day . That’s how we operate .” Matt Yates, a county plow driver, said a typical winter shift begins with vehicle inspections and preparation, including loading salt and sand and fueling trucks before heading out . “Safety is the top priority,” Yates said . “We slow way down in heavy snow, and you really have to be aware of what the truck’s doing and what’s around you .” The department operates a mix of single-axle and tandem-axle plow trucks, each with advantages depending on the route . Single-axle trucks are more agile on narrow or winding roads, while
BEHIND THE WHEEL — Kosciusko County Highway Department driver Matt Yates sits in the cab of his snowplow truck while preparing to head back out on his assigned route. Drivers inspect, fuel and reload their trucks multiple times during winter storms to maintain safe driving conditions across the county.
tandems carry more material and are often assigned to longer, heavily traveled stretches . To keep drivers productive, the county maintains multiple salt-and-sand stockpile locations around the county, reducing the need for trucks to return to the main facility for refills . Fuel tanks are also stationed at those sites so drivers can stay on their routes longer . Winter weather has also complicated material supplies . County officials said salt availability has tightened statewide, influenced by major ice storms in southern states
and temperatures are used to determine plow schedules and crew hours during winter weather events.
and supply disruptions elsewhere . Extreme cold further reduces the effectiveness of salt and sand, forcing crews to rely more heavily on plowing and timing . Emergency situations such as fire responses where water freezes across roadways trigger on-call responses . In those cases, a foreman or supervisor coordinates with the sheriff’s department to dispatch the closest available driver . Yates said one of the biggest challenges is public awareness . “People don’t always realize how dangerous it is to follow plow
trucks too closely,” he said . “We turn around, we back up, and we can’t treat the road properly if someone’s right on our bumper .” Despite the long hours and difficult conditions, Yates said he values the work . “I like driving, I like being out there, and I like helping people,” he said . “It’s hard work, but it matters .” As winter continues, highway department staff said patience from the public-and giving plows plenty of space-remains one of the best ways residents can help keep county roads safe .
CLEARING THE WAY — Kosciusko County Highway Department driver, Matt Yates, stands by a snowplow truck, which clears county roads during winter weather. Highway crews monitor weather conditions throughout the day and often work up to 12-hour shifts to keep roads passable during prolonged snowfall.