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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 18, 1993                   TAG: 9302180190
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

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SNOWPLOW OPERATORS LEFT HIGH AND, ER, DRY

In 1989, Donnie Hatchett made what he thought was a good business decision: He purchased four dump trucks with snow blades.

It looked like a smart move, especially since Richmond never has had a reputation for being prepared for snow, and that its residents were willing to pay handsomely to have it removed.

Unfortunately for Hatchett, Richmond, once prone to frequent snowfalls, hasn't seen any appreciable accumulation since December 1989.

So Hatchett's trucks just sit. And sit. And sit.

"They're just rotting away," Hatchett said, his voice drooping into a sigh of resignation.

Last year, Hatchett and his partner in Venture Snow Removal decided that "if we didn't get snow this year, we're history." Now, he said, they're closer than ever to getting out.

When they started five years ago, Hatchett said, "We put a lot of vehicles on the road for snow removal . . . then, it stopped snowing."

Hatchett's not the only person hurt by Richmond's newfound immunity to snow.

Steve Flournoy is trying to remain optimistic. Even though there's been no snow, he's been advertising for snowplow operators "in case we get one."

"A friend of mine from up north can't believe what we charge for snowplowing," Flournoy said. "It's so routine up there. He gets $25 to push out a service station, but we get $75. People are generally happy to pay, just so they're able to get someone."

At Abominable Snow Removal, Frank Lyons hasn't taken his snow-removal equipment out of storage.

Lyons said he's lost money trying to keep his equipment maintained.

"A good 6-incher. Give me that and we'll be back even again," he said.

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