LITTLE ROCK (10-09) The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) won first place in the 2006 Regional Equipment Operators Competition held in Savannah, Georgia, on October 4th, according to AHTD officials.

     The annual regional competition, now in its fourth year, is held for member states in the Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.  The competition, which is referred to as a Roadeo, allows equipment operators to show their skills at maneuvering trucks and machinery through obstacle courses and at precision challenges.  Teams from Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee participated in this year’s event.  Each state’s team is composed of the winners from statewide competitions held earlier in the year.      

     This year’s Roadeo included skill events for backhoes, single axle dump trucks, tandem axle dump trucks, lowboys, motor graders and tractor mowers.  After the day’s competition, Arkansas had won first place, followed by Mississippi in second place and Georgia in third.  This is the fourth consecutive year the AHTD has won the competition. 

     “We are extremely proud of the team we sent to Georgia,” stated AHTD Director Dan Flowers.  “The level of skill each state’s team displays at the regional competition is very impressive, and it is an honor to come back to Arkansas as Roadeo Champions.”

     The AHTD team included Jimmy Eldridge of Des Arc (1^st Place – Lowboy), Yvonne Blaire of Waldron (1^st Place – Single Axle Dump Truck), Larry Brazil of Houston (3^rd Place – Backhoe), Johnny Carte of Subiaco (3^rd Place – Tractor Mower), Todd Clifford of Paragould (competed in Single Axle Dump Truck), Darrell Barnes of Atkins (competed in Lowboy), Gary Fendley of  Cherry Valley (competed in Tandem Axle Dump Truck), William Hickman of Camden (competed in Motor Grader), Jerry Mitchell of Wynne (competed in Motor Grader), David Morton of Lewisville (1^st Place – Backhoe), David Pruitt of Atkins (2^nd Place – Tandem Axle Dump Truck) and Fred Ridenhour of Waldron (1^st Place  - Tractor Mower).   

     “For Arkansas to win four consecutive regional Rodeos is unprecedented,”  added Flowers.  “It is also a reflection of the great work our employees do on the job on a daily basis.”

     Next year’s event will be hosted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.