Rolla engineering students help small towns dream

NEWBURG, Mo. -- Some small Ozarks towns near the Missouri University of Science & Technology are benefiting from the passion and expertise of budding engineers on campus.

Students from Karl Burgher's project management classes are working with nearby towns on economic development and civic improvement projects.

They've lent their expertise to Salem, St. James, Steelville, Potosi, Rolla, Crocker, Centralia, Vienna and Newburg. In the fall they will work with Dixon and Owensville.

The partnership allows the cash-strapped towns to conceive and build support for such projects as a city park and restoration of an old railroad site in Newburg.