Popular Mechanics inspires, instructs and influences readers to help them master the modern world. Whether it’s practical DIY home-improvement tips, gadgets and digital technology, information on the newest cars or the latest breakthroughs in science -- PM is the ultimate guide to our high-tech lifestyle.

Popular Mechanics inspires, instructs and influences readers to help them master the modern world. Whether it’s practical DIY home-improvement tips, gadgets and digital technology, information on the newest cars or the latest breakthroughs in science -- PM is the ultimate guide to our high-tech lifestyle.

Ashtabula County Braces for Winter Storm

ASHTABULA, Ohio — April showers bring May flowers, but for some Ohio residents a foot of late April snow brings confusion.

“We had nice 70 degree weather a month ago and now it’s freezing cold, and we’re supposed to have snow! That’s crazy!  I think this is nuts,” an Ashtabula resident tells Fox 8.

But to some, the seasonal switcheroo is actually a blessing. In fact, private plow companies depend on it.

For the Nagle family of Ashtabula, snow pays the bills. That meant a thrifty winter for AC Plowing, the family company.

“Typically we’ll plow almost every single day in Ashtabula County. Sometimes we’ll plow 24-hours straight,” Cory Nagle explains. “Most of [the private plow companies], like myself, have only plowed maybe three or four times at the most and I think a lot of people have struggled.”

Finally, a spring snow to the rescue. Of course, for Nagle, that means everything that was put away must now come back out. Sunday meant a day filled with reinstalling plow blades, and checking oil, tires and wiper blades on his truck.

Source: Cleveland News - Fox 8

Snow Plow and Small Town Living

by Galen Geer

I am a former US Marine and I am a Vietnam veteran. Also served in US Army. I am an avid angler and hunter and my fishing/hunting trips become the basis of much of my writing. I am married, have three step-children and two children of my own from my first marriage. This year, at age 59, I earned my MA in English from the University of North Dakota. I had planned to take an afternoon off this weekend and do some late season pheasant hunting. First, I had to clear the snow that had accumulated Thursday night and most of Friday. It wouldn’t be such a bad job if I didn’t have an ongoing battle with George, head of the City Shop and primary snow plow driver. In a lot of ways I find the whole thing amusing and somewhat reminiscent of the rural mail delivery madman Crumb Petrie in the 1988 Chevy Chase film Funny Farm . In the film Petrie drives over the mailbox, throws the mail at Chase’s character and commits a number of other hilarious acts. Our George hasn’t driven over our mailbox (we don’t have one), but he has buried our driveway in up to three feet of snow on a good day (for George). After he passes with the snow plow I can count on at least half-an-hour, if not more, digging out the driveway entrance—even with my snow blower! The problem is simple enough, George must clear the road and when he passes my drive his plow mounds up the snow. George is actually a pretty nice guy and we are both members of the Finley Wildlife and Gun Club, but I can’t help but picture a slight upturn of his mouth when he first eyes my driveway and slowly, carefully, and corresponding to the distance closed as he nears my driveway, his features begin to take on a distinctive Snidely Whiplash sneer as the snow that had once blanketed the street is scraped from the asphalt and gloriously pilled in my drive--the new guy's drive. Sometimes, while standing in my kitchen looking out the window and watching George bearing down on my driveway...