After a tougher than normal winter and a spring that saw heavy amounts of extended rain throughout Marion County, Marion County Engineer Tyler Christian says the Road Department is thankful for the extended warmer temperatures we have seen throughout September. Christian tells KNIA/KRLS News the summer like temperatures and the wind has helped drying out roads and making work possible that normally would be coming to an end. Christian says as far as this upcoming winter is concerned the Road Department is completely stocked with sand and salt and ready to go when winter shows up. He says last year there were some intermediate thawings towards the end of winter when the department brought in more repair rock for gravel roads and he says that rock is still stock piled throughout the county and is ready whenever it is needed.