ST. PAUL — You're Welcome, Don'tcha Snow and Skol Plow are among the newest named snowplows set to deploy in Northern Minnesota as part of the Minnesota Department of Transportation fleet.
State officials announced the latest round of winning names on Thursday, Feb. 13, in MnDOT's Name a Snowplow contest.
The winning names, in order of vote totals, and their future homes are:
- We’re Off To See The Blizzard – District 8 (Southwest Minnesota)
- Snowtorious B.I.G. – District 4 (West Central Minnesota)
- Plowabunga! – District 6 (Southeast Minnesota)
- Anthony Sledwards – Metro District (Twin Cities)
- You’re Welcome – District 2 (Northwest Minnesota)
- Don’tcha Snow – District 3 (Central Minnesota)
- Skol Plow – District 1 (Northeast Minnesota)
- I Came, I Thaw, I Conquered – District 7 (South Central Minnesota)
Nearly 23,500 voters cast ballots in this year’s contest. The order of all 50 finalists can be found on MnDOT’s Name a Snowplow website.
“Each season we have so much fun selecting new and creative snowplow names, but this contest is also a great way to highlight the hard work of our snowplow drivers and keep them safe,” stated MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger in the announcement. “Please slow down and give our snowplow drivers plenty of space to clear roads safely every time it snows.”
MnDOT invited people to submit creative snowplow name ideas in December 2024 and received more than 7,300 submissions. Most suggestions were submitted multiple times by multiple people. Agency staff narrowed the list to 50 finalists for the public to vote on. This is the fifth year that MnDOT has hosted the Name a Snowplow contest.
Statewide, MnDOT now has 44 named snowplows, including Plowy McPlowFace, Betty Whiteout and Taylor Drift. In addition to the 40 named snowplows selected through the annual Name a Snowplow contests, MnDOT staff have also helped to name four additional snowplows statewide in acknowledgement of highways the state plows adjacent to tribal lands. They are Giiwedin-The North Wind; Goonodaabaan-Snow Vehicle (both Ojibwe); and Icamna-Blizzard and Wakta!-Watch Out! (both Dakota).
-
Lorie Shaull/Special to KAXEThe lawsuit states Robert Slaybaugh was placed in a cell with a sheet and a bunk previously ID'd as a suicide hazard, despite an “overwhelming combination of risk factors.” -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe second and final public comment evening for the boundary dispute trial heard a broad mix of comments from affected residents along Lake Bemidji. -
Contributed/Lorie ShaullDuring the Phenology Report for the week of Oct. 7, Staff Phenologist John Latimer covers the next month in nature, development of fall colors, and migratory dragonflies. -
Events this week include a story slam in Bemidji, an Indigenous People's Day event in Brainerd and a fundraiser for a dog park in Deer River. -
Contributed/Minnesota Incident Command SystemThe fire has been mapped at 160 acres. A predicted change in weather calls for increased and shifting winds, creating a potential to push the fire toward the trail. -
Plus: The Minnesota Department of Human Rights announced it secured two settlements against northern Minnesota employers for sex discrimination; and the US Small Business Administration is operating a disaster loan outreach center through Oct. 18 in Bemidji for those impacted by the June 21 severe storms. -
Kari Hedlund/KAXE StaffCheck out highlighted songs from Dry Cleaning, Genesis Owusu, Big Thief, Blue Moon Marquee and Northern Cree, Jeff Tweedy, Cate Le Bon, Jon Batiste and Geese. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe Department of Human Rights announced settlements over "blatant workplace sex discrimination" with Lakes Concrete Plus in Bemidji and Key Lime Air in Thief River Falls. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe judge further ruled that evidence gathered as part of a driving-while-intoxicated investigation will remain in the case record and scheduled a plea hearing. -
Contributed/Minnesota Interagency Fire CenterThe Minnesota Interagency Fire Center reported the fire is burning in mixed maple hardwoods and fall leaf litter, primarily in a ridge area of the park.
