From staff reports

CHILLICOTHE-

An employee at the Ohio Department of Transportation's Lawrence County garage can now say he's one of the best. Dan Pratt was one of the top six entrants in this years ODOT District Nine "Roadeo" championship.

In an effort toward making them better drivers, the annual "Roadeo" competition helps to continue the development of ODOT drivers' awareness, ability and safe driving practices.

Through a series of tests and a driving course of clearances, serpentines and stops, the competition tests the skill level of participating highway maintenance workers and mechanics who operate some of the state's heaviest equipment.

"The 'Roadeo' is a challenge for our drivers to test their abilities as heavy equipment operators, and those who participate are scored based on a set criteria that judges their skills against the course and the clock," said District 9 Highway Management Administrator Vaughn Wilson. "It is not an easy course to run, and the challenge makes for a great competition amongst

our drivers."

This year's District 9 "Roadeo" winner was Kenny Daniels, a resident of Frankfort and a highway maintenance worker 3 at ODOT's District Garage. Daniels and other top scorers will now represent the district at the statewide ODOT "Truck and Loader Roadeo" Competition this fall.