"Blizzard of Oz" stops for an Ipswich visit

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) rolled out the 2nd Annual Name the Snowplow Contest in November. The contest was designed to engage people across the state with the SDDOT in a fun way while providing safety information to assist the traveling public during winter weather.

The Aberdeen Area contest winner was Jessica Wimer of Leola, formerly of Aberdeen. Her winning snowplow name was "Blizzard of Oz."

Wimer heard about the contest through her husband who works for the DOT and Facebook. She actually entered the name in last year's contest but did not win.

She said the name came from an Ozzy Osbourne album Blizzard of Ozz which came out in 1980. My husband and I like his music. "Aberdeen is well known for Storybook Land Park that encompasses the Wizard of Oz storybook/movie. I felt the name was a perfect fit for me and the area I live in!" Wimer said.

"Having a husband who has worked for the DOT for 10+ years, I know firsthand the dedication the guys put in year-round. On call 24/7. Anytime. Any day," Wimer said. "Whether it be plowing out an ambulance in a blizzard, road closures due to spring/summer rains, and the unfortunate accidents that happen on our state highways. Dedication. DOT work many times interferes with family time, and SLEEP! Remember, DOT workers are out there to keep YOU safe, please keep them SAFE."

Cody Wangsness, lead highway maintenance worker in Faulkton, is the operator of the "Blizzard of Oz" snowplow.

"The SDDOT Name the Snow Plow Contest is a neat way to get the public involved and bring awareness to both the snow plows and winter maintenance in South Dakota," said Wangsness.

"Safety on our roadways is our number one priority," said Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt. "Whether people are traveling during a winter snow event or the height of road construction season, access to real-time road conditions through sd511.org/ is crucial."

There are four SDDOT Regions, each region is divided into three areas:

• Aberdeen Region: Aberdeen, Watertown, and Huron

• Mitchell Region: Mitchell, Sioux Falls and Yankton

• Pierre Region: Pierre, Mobridge, and Winner

• Rapid City Region: Rapid City, Belle Fourche and Custer.

Each area snowplow has been named.

For the latest on road and weather conditions, road closures, construction work zones, commercial vehicle restrictions and traffic incidents visit https://sd511.org or dial 511.