The District 11 Equipment Operators Safety & Training Competition was held Friday with Johnny Bingham (Knox County) winning the overall individual championship for the fourth time in five years.

The annual Equipment Operators Safety & Training Competition brings together equipment operators from the district’s county garages for a day of friendly competition and fellowship. The event allows equipment operators from the district’s county crews to show their skills in operating the equipment they use to maintain state highways in the district. The obstacle courses simulated actual situations equipment operators may encounter in the performance of their duties.

The individual equipment operating contest winners and runners-up will advance to a statewide competition against participants from the other 11 highway districts across Kentucky. Individual event winners were:

Tandem Trailer: First place, Brandon Kelly (Harlan County); second, Josh Medlock (Jackson County).

Single Axle with Plow: First, Dennis Bryant (Whitley County); second, Franklin Garnett (Whitley County).

Tandem with Plow: First, John Morgan (Laurel County); second, Taylor Bowling (Laurel County).

Backhoe: First, Russell Jewell (Clay County); second, Johnny Bingham (Knox County).

GraderL: First, Johnny Bingham (Knox County); second, Franklin Garnett (Whitley County).

Tractor with Mower: First, Greg Dewees Jr. (Laurel County); second, Taylor Bowling (Laurel County).

Overall: First, Johnny Bingham (Knox County); second, Tommy Bowlin (Whitley County).