Cherokee County took delivery of 12 new Cat 12H motorgraders May 21. There was a reception at the Fabick CAT Joplin branch office to commemorate the occasion, with all 12 motorgraders lined up.

County commissioners, Charlie Napier, Pat Collins and Rodney Edmondson, along with several Fabick CAT representatives were on hand.

Immediately following the reception the new graders were driven to Columbus, Kan., via a police escort. The machines stopped at the Railroad Overpass Bridge in Galena and also at the Rainbow Bridge just outside Baxter Springs, Kan., for pictures. Both of these unique bridges were the last ones of their kind on old Route 66.

Cherokee County is made up of 590 sq. mi. with a number of gravel roads, making the motorgrader an essential part of its equipment fleet.

The county updated its aging fleet of motorgraders but looked at several different brands first. County officials decided to go with Cat machines. Prior to this purchase, the county’s newest motor grader was a 1988 model.

Fabick CAT celebrates its 90 year anniversary in 2007. Headquartered in Fenton, Mo., Fabick CAT is an authorized dealer of Caterpillar equipment, prime and stand-by power systems, parts and service, compact construction, and rental equipment for 99 counties in mid and southern Missouri, southern Illinois, along with Cherokee County in Kansas, and Ottawa County in Oklahoma.

Other locations include Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Foristell, Jefferson City, Joplin, Springfield, West Plains, Mo.; Salem, Marion, Metropolis, and Troy, Ill.

For more information, visit www.fabickcat.com.

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