Wlaf1450
By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Road crews with the Campbell County Highway Department worked round the clock from Thursday (Christmas Eve) afternoon to Saturday to maintain county roads during the first big snowfall of the season.
According to County Road Superintendent Ron Dilbeck, he and a crew of 18 put in 30-plus hours from Thursday to Saturday in an effort to maintain the county’s 700 miles of roads.
“We worked our butts off; most of my guys got around two and a half hours of sleep and then they were right back at it,” Dilbeck said.
In total, the road department deployed nine pickup trucks with snow plows on the front, six dump trucks and a road grader. Dilbeck said he also had a crew of two guys handling downed trees, which there were a number of throughout the county.
The worst hit areas for snow had the most downed trees, according to Dilbeck. This included Stinking Creek, White Oak and other mountainous areas, as well as east of LaFollette from around Big O’s up to the Claiborne County line. Those areas got between four and five inches of heavy snow resulting in lots of downed trees. Road crews reported seeing several vehicles off the road as well.
Campbell County Road Department crews had the main roads cleared by late Thursday evening and had started on secondary roads when the next wave of snow hit amidst rapidly dropping temperatures. “We basically had to start all over getting it all cleared again,” Dilbeck said. By Saturday, it was all done.
“I’m proud of my guys and the work they put in. We work hard at it. We are always here to provide the service and do the best we can with what we got to do it with. We won’t give up,” Dilbeck said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 12/30/2020-6AM)
Great Job Mr. Dilbeck by you and your crew.
A big thanks to Campbell County Road Department and LaFollette Utilities workers for everything you all have done. May the Lord bless each of you and keep yuns safe and warm throughout this Winter Season.