Submitted

Crowder State Park was the topic of a program presented at the Thursday, Dec. 4 meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club, held at the BTC Bank community room. Scott Sharp presided at the meeting, Martha Goedert gave the prayer and Phil Hoffman was sergeant at arms.

Program chairman Melissa King introduced Anna Persell and Reid Johnson, who told about their duties at Crowder along with activities happening at the park. Johnson serves as the park ranger, enforcing laws in the park. He began as a ranger at Meramec State Park. He was then promoted corporal and was responsible for training other rangers throughout the state. In 2013, he was promoted to sergeant, becoming responsible for coordinating all training programs within the park system. He was transferred to Crowder State Park in April 2021 and continues to coordinate training statewide. He said there are 47 rangers throughout the state, adding that in addition to their park duties, the rangers can be called on for other law enforcement duties in the state as needed.

Mrs. Persell began working for the state park system as a seasonal worker in 1994, becoming a full-time employee in 1998. She started at Weston Bend State Park and has worked at other parks in the stat before becoming the superintendent at Crowder Park. She said being assigned to Crowder Park allowed her and her family to be close to family members who live in the Spickard area. She told about several projects going on at the park, including the recent veterans deer hunt, which allowed 20 Missouri veterans to spend a weekend at Crowder and hunt deer – some for the first time. Upcoming events include an Old Fashioned Christmas on Dec. 14 and a “First Day” hike is planned on Jan. 1. Other events are also scheduled, with the list being found on park’s page on the Department of Natural Resources website. She said an ADA project is planned at the organized campground to make it more handicapped accessible for those organizations who use it each year.

During the business meeting, final plans were made for the club Christmas party on Dec. 18. The club voted to host the NCMC men’s and women’s basketball teams for lunch at the club’s meeting on Jan. 8.

The program for the Dec. 11 meeting will be THS vocal music instructor Tyler Busick and several vocal music students, who will entertain the club with several holiday selections. Melissa King is the program chairman.