LAWRENCE CO. — Lawrence County Highway crews are locked in a grueling battle against winter weather, with Highway Superintendent Brian Sowder reporting to the commissioners this morning that his department is currently “swamped” with calls from residents.
While many main arteries are now passable, Sowder says the sheer volume of snow has made clearing a slow, repetitive process. “It takes 13 hours to clear just one route, and we are still working on it,” Sowder noted, urging patience from the public as crews push through exhaustion to reach rural areas.
Addressing common complaints regarding blocked driveways and mailboxes, Sowder offered a candid perspective on the logistics of snow removal.
“People are frustrated because driveways and mailboxes are getting blocked by snow. I don’t know what to tell them—the snow has to go somewhere, and we are doing the best we can,” Sowder said.
Crews are currently waiting for a reprieve from the cold; the department is hoping for a rise in temperature so that salt and other melting materials can become chemically effective against the ice.
While county crews work around the clock on public thoroughfares, residents living on private roads face a different set of challenges.
Lawrence County Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer clarified that the county is not legally responsible for the maintenance or snow removal of private drives, of which there are approximately 25 to 30 within the county. This distinction often leaves residents in these areas responsible for hiring their own contractors or coordinating neighborhood plowing efforts.
“I am sympathetic to their plight, but it is out of our hands,” Luchauer stated, emphasizing that county resources and tax dollars are strictly allocated for county roadway.
Despite the winter crisis, the Highway Department is already looking toward warmer months. Sowder announced that bid packets for the upcoming summer paving season will be sent out soon.
The county has identified several high-priority roads for resurfacing across all three districts:
| District | Roads Scheduled for Paving |
| District 1 | West Coxton Road, Coxton Road, Lane, and Briar Wood Addition |
| District 2 | Grier Lane, Clark Smith Road, Cassidy Lane, and half of Stumphole Bridge Road |
| District 3 | Pinhook Road (1.7 miles), West Powerline Road, and Brown Station Road (1.3 miles) |
The paving typically begins once the spring thaw is complete and asphalt plants reopen. For now, the department remains focused on emergency snow removal and asks residents to keep vehicles off the roadways to allow plows to work safely.
The commissioners also approved the appointment of Trevor Turpin as District 3 foreman.
