On a frigid day, February 15th, 2021, snow removal crews all over the country prepared for a winter snow blast that would lay a thick white blanket from far north to as far south as Texas. On the morning of February 16th, after snow had accumulated overnight but would continue packing down for several more hours — schools, businesses, and even government offices had shut down for the day. A red level travel disaster had been declared by Grant County Commissioners in line with countless counties across the nation. Snowfall between 8 – 12 inches was being reported in Grant County, Indiana according to a news article in the Chronicle Tribune on February 17th.
While the residents were ordered to stay home, the snow plows pressed on. The Snow Removal Crew made up of 16 employees (including management and support staff) of the City of Marion Citywide Maintenance Dept. was one crew out of monumental numbers across the country clearing roads for safe travel.
City of Marion Citywide Maintenance Superintendent, James Loftis, expressed extreme gratitude toward his hard-working and diligent team during the winter emergency.
“This amazing crew started at 7am Monday morning, and worked around the clock for days to get the job done. We were faced with just under one foot of snowfall in a 24-hour period, and this crew took away from their families to work continuous hours to clear the streets. I can’t say enough of the professionalism and work ethic they displayed during this storm and the previous snow event. They always stand tall amid the many thankless jobs they are presented.”
