Hope on the Road
From mowing highways to making street signs, Hope Kilgore is part of the steady, behind the scenes work of the City of Jasper Street Department
Words by Anna Duncan Owens | Image by Al Blanton
Freshly painted crosswalks. Trimmed roadsides. Straightened signs. In Jasper, the signs of good work are often quiet, but they are everywhere. Behind many of them is Hope Kilgore, a steady presence in the City of Jasper’s Street Department.
Hope has worked for the City of Jasper for eight years, spending the last four with the Street Department. The Oakman native’s job is hard to define because no two days are ever the same. “In the summer, I’m usually out on Highway 78, mowing with the tractor,” she says. “In the winter, I spend more time in the sign shop, fixing signs that get knocked over or worn out.”
Those signs are not simply repaired; they are made from scratch. “We have a machine connected to a computer where we design each sign,” she explains. “We cut the letters out, apply them to reflective backing, and lay it all out by hand. It’s one of those things you don’t really think about until you’re the one doing it.”
Before joining the Street Department, Hope admits she rarely thought about signs, roads, or the systems that keep a city functioning. That has changed as she now notices every detail, especially when she travels outside Jasper. “I go to other cities and think, ‘Man, they need to straighten that stop sign,’” she says. “This job changes how you see everything.”
That shift in perspective has deepened her connection to the place she calls home. Jasper is no longer just where she lives; it is something she helps care for, piece by piece. “You realize how much effort it takes to keep things looking good,” she says. “And once you know that, you start seeing it everywhere.”
Hope’s responsibilities include patching potholes, repainting road lines, installing signs, and even assisting with traffic lights. Some days are carefully planned, while others bring unexpected challenges. Equipment breaks down. Supplies arrive late. Weather changes alter schedules. “People don’t always understand what’s going on behind the scenes,” she says. “If a tractor is sitting on the side of the road, it’s probably because something broke. We might be waiting on a part or a mechanic. We’re not just sitting there.”
She has grown accustomed to calls asking why the grass is only half cut or why a sign has not yet been replaced. It is part of the job, but so is the pride that comes with it. “I love helping the community and making things look good,” she says. “There’s something special about seeing the finished project and knowing you had a hand in it.”
That pride shows itself in small, often unseen ways. If she notices twigs left behind after mowing, she will turn back to pick them up. “I can’t leave it messy,” she says. “Even if no one else sees it, I know it’s there, and it should be done right.”
That level of care does not always come with recognition, but it does not go unnoticed. Hope recalls one moment that stayed with her. A woman who lived along her mowing route once called her supervisor, not to complain, but to offer praise. “She said, ‘Everyone does a good job, but I really like it when Hope cuts the grass out here,’” Hope recalls. “That meant a lot.”
She is also proud of the department’s role in community events, including the city’s Christmas parade. “There’s a lot of planning and effort that goes into it,” she says. “But it’s fun, and it’s rewarding to see it all come together.”
What many people never see is the physical side of the job. The labor is demanding. The heat of summer and the cold of winter take a toll, and the work continues even when conditions are less than ideal. Still, Hope shows up every day, not just out of obligation, but because the work holds meaning for her. “It makes me feel good to know I’m doing something for the city,” she says. “This work matters.”
Within the Street Department, Hope describes a culture built on pride, teamwork, and doing things the right way. “You can always tell when someone cares,” she says. “I work with two great guys, and we get along really well. We joke, we work hard, and we hold each other to a standard. If you're going to do something, do it right.”
That shared standard extends to safety, which Hope says is a point of pride for the department, especially in a line of work that comes with real risks. She adds that humor plays an important role in carrying them through the tougher days. “We give each other a hard time, but it keeps the job fun,” she says. “If you can laugh and still get the work done, that’s a good day.”
That kind of work ethic shows itself in results, even when no one stops to name it. When asked what service means to her, Hope answers without hesitation, “Making my family proud, and making the community proud, too.”
For Hope Kilgore, that is what it comes down to—showing up, doing the job with care, and letting the work speak for itself. Whether she is repainting a crosswalk or circling back to fix something others might overlook, her efforts do more than keep the city moving. They help keep it feeling like home. 78