After 4 Years, Heckert Happy To Be Back In The Snow Plow

Fall officially arrived last week, which means it’s time to start planning for snow removal. And there will be a familiar face behind the wheel of a snow plow.

Craig Heckert of Neligh will be offering the service to local residential and business clients this winter. He started Heckert Mowing and Snow Removal in 1999 and sold it in August of 2012 to Matt Schindler of SchinDigs Landcare.

When Schindler decided to concentrate on land care and no longer offer snow removal, Heckert said he jumped at the opportunity to get back into the truck.

“I love it and missed it a lot,” he said. “Getting up at 2 a.m. to push snow, I really missed that.”

But there was more to it than just the hunger to play in the snow again, Heckert said. A lifelong resident of Neligh, Heckert said he wanted to make sure Neligh was taken care of, just like it was when Schindler purchased his business in 2012.

“I was concerned about Neligh because there aren’t a lot of options, but I wanted to know it was taken care of,” he said. “I talked to Matt, and he gave me his blessing and even sold me my truck back.”

Heckert, who works for the U.S. Postal Service delivering mail, said he plans to work around that schedule most of the time but does have backup drivers in place to fulfill commitments.

Heckert said he had 40-50 regular customers previously, but in 2006 when nearly two feet fell in the area, he assisted about 75 during a single storm, depending on the severity.

“I had a lot of businesses approach me after receiving Matt’s letter, so once I spoke to him about taking over the snow removal, I reached out to them,” he said. “People seem very happy to know we’re back in the snow removal business.”

​Those interested in snow removal can contact Heckert by phone or text at 402-841-6520.