MONROE - Another snowstorm hit the area Friday, which meant highway workers once again were called out to clear the roads and make it possible for people to get around.
Dave Ellingson and Curt Zentner have been with the Green County Highway Department for many years - Ellingson for 18 years and Zentner for 37 years.
Both of them understand that when the snow flies, they're needed most.
Ellingson, like all the other snow plow drivers, is used to spending hours in the truck, plowing the same roads over and over until they're clear. Each driver has a route to take care of, he said. His covers County N, County H and County C north of Monroe.
"You just keep making right turns," he laughed. "It takes me about two and a half hours to make one pass and then I start over again."
For 12 to 15 hours a day, Ellingson will be in his truck, his lunch box nearby for a quick snack, plowing the roads. Breaks are few and far between as the snow plow drivers continue to plow and salt the roads before the sun comes up and long after it's set.
It can be a long day, which, depending on the weather, can turn into long weeks.
"One month last year we worked 27 days straight," Ellingson said.
The snow is only part of what Ellingson has to deal with when he's on the road. Ice also can be a problem, and make his job stressful.
"Plow trucks can slide off the road, too," he said.
Another problem, besides ice, is the occasional driver who doesn't really know what they're doing on the road during bad weather. Ellingson said he's seen many cars off the road while plowing.
"We'll stop and ask them if they're OK, but we can't pull anyone out of the ditch unless it's an emergency," he said.
The drivers do radio in when they see a vehicle in a ditch.
Zentner is in the dispatch office ready to receive any messages from the drivers.
"I keep track of them," he said. "If they get out of the trucks, we want to know where they are."
Zentner also spends hours talking to the drivers, answering phone calls and helping the drivers when they need equipment for their trucks. Like the drivers, Zentner's day begins early and ends late, and it can get busy in his office.
"It gets hectic," he said. "There might be a driver in here, the phone is ringing and I'm on the radio."
Zentner said the phone calls he most often gets are from people who want to know when their roads will be clear. Working with the public sometimes can be stressful. Some people get impatient.
"I tell them when the plows went out, and that they'll be there as soon as they can," he said.
Dave Ellingson and Curt Zentner have been with the Green County Highway Department for many years - Ellingson for 18 years and Zentner for 37 years.
Both of them understand that when the snow flies, they're needed most.
Ellingson, like all the other snow plow drivers, is used to spending hours in the truck, plowing the same roads over and over until they're clear. Each driver has a route to take care of, he said. His covers County N, County H and County C north of Monroe.
"You just keep making right turns," he laughed. "It takes me about two and a half hours to make one pass and then I start over again."
For 12 to 15 hours a day, Ellingson will be in his truck, his lunch box nearby for a quick snack, plowing the roads. Breaks are few and far between as the snow plow drivers continue to plow and salt the roads before the sun comes up and long after it's set.
It can be a long day, which, depending on the weather, can turn into long weeks.
"One month last year we worked 27 days straight," Ellingson said.
The snow is only part of what Ellingson has to deal with when he's on the road. Ice also can be a problem, and make his job stressful.
"Plow trucks can slide off the road, too," he said.
Another problem, besides ice, is the occasional driver who doesn't really know what they're doing on the road during bad weather. Ellingson said he's seen many cars off the road while plowing.
"We'll stop and ask them if they're OK, but we can't pull anyone out of the ditch unless it's an emergency," he said.
The drivers do radio in when they see a vehicle in a ditch.
Zentner is in the dispatch office ready to receive any messages from the drivers.
"I keep track of them," he said. "If they get out of the trucks, we want to know where they are."
Zentner also spends hours talking to the drivers, answering phone calls and helping the drivers when they need equipment for their trucks. Like the drivers, Zentner's day begins early and ends late, and it can get busy in his office.
"It gets hectic," he said. "There might be a driver in here, the phone is ringing and I'm on the radio."
Zentner said the phone calls he most often gets are from people who want to know when their roads will be clear. Working with the public sometimes can be stressful. Some people get impatient.
"I tell them when the plows went out, and that they'll be there as soon as they can," he said.