Plows with personality
Children name snow-removal equipment, win prizes
UNION TOWNSHIP
Ten-year-old Miles Terry, a Daniel Boone Middle school fifth grader, chose the first name that came to him for the Union Township name-the-snowplow contest.
“Ploward” just fit. It was one of the four suggestions selected by the township supervisors at their Dec. 20 meeting.
“We were so excited when we got the email (announcing the winners),” said his mother, Sarah.
Not every member of the family rejoiced, however.
“His sister is super-bummed because she submitted a name that didn’t get picked,” Sarah said.
The winners gathered to see the newly christened plows on Saturday, Jan. 6, just in time for weather that required the equipment to be put to use.
The contest was proposed by Scott Schoedler, a member of the road crew in the southeastern Berks County municipality.
Schoedler said he saw a news story on the internet about an outof-state highway-maintenance department naming its snowplows through a contest. He thought it would be a positive program for the community he serves.
The contest was open to children 12 and under who reside in Union Township.
Supervisors Chairman Nelson
Ott Jr., who is also the township roadmaster, said the contest, which was publicized in the township newsletter, was a way to bring the community together, especially since it involved children.
The plows on the front of four trucks bear the names chosen by the supervisors.
Kyler Britain’s suggestion, “Arctic Crusher,” was a collaboration between him and his mother, Christal.
A second-grader at Daniel Boone Intermediate Elementary School, Kyler, 7, could barely contain his excitement when, while seated between his grandparents in their pickup truck, he watched the plow he named roll into the municipal building lot on Saturday morning, Jan. 6.
With snow falling as if on cue, the four winners gathered for a photo opportunity and to receive their other award — a $25 gift card to Dairy Queen.
The other winning names were “Snow Bear” by Lillian Mayall, 10, and “Snowasaurus Rex” by Lillian Paulukonis-Rohrbach, 12.
After handing the winners their prizes, the road crew headed out for the first time this season to keep the roads safe and clear.
The chances seemed high the children would see the plows they named going past their home sooner than later.