Steve Huppert
Columnist
Hupps440@aol.com
The title Public Works is not very exciting to readers, but in this case the words “public works” are very important to everyone in the New River Valley as we received our second major snowstorm in two weeks.
For us Sotherners this terrible weather is something just “Yankees” get. As I write this on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, the temperature is 10 degrees, with wind chill factor below zero. It is just miserable, schools have been closed for six days in a row, with the chances of another two days next week.
Life is not good for anyone. I feel sorry for the animals who grace my yard; the squirrels, rabbits, birds, and all the rest of the gang that live in my backyard.
I tell you this so you can fully appreciate the job and the conflicts the public works crews have been going through these last 10 days. The snow, ice, wind and sleet make everyone think twice about getting out of bed, much less going outside, while the public works crews put in 15-hour days.
I was planning on going to the VT vs. UVa. women’s basketball game at Va. Tech today. Both teams have the same record. The winner of today’s game has a better chance of going to the NCAA Tournament. Even with that pull, I am not going to make the move of going outside even if we have a chance to beat Virginia.
That is what makes the job of people working in public works even more impressive, as they have been putting in long days for the last two weeks, eating wife-prepared peanut butter sandwiches while pushing and plowing one snow covered road after another.
This morning at 1:30 a.m. I heard the snowplow on the road in front of my house.
Peanut Butter sandwiches at any time are not that great, but 1:30 in the morning is certainly not a winning treat.
Public Works are not restricted to snow; year-round they are the people who protect us from floods, hurricanes, and an extended list of support duties. We are definitely getting our tax money from the public works department.
We should all be appreciative and give them another sandwich.
