DIXFIELD — The Board of Selectmen on Monday unanimously approved a request to donate the use of a town truck to assist in the search for a missing Byron man.
Barry Breton, who has volunteered for the town for a few years with plowing and running equipment, said searchers are still looking for Derek C. Adams, 46, who has been missing since Dec. 28 from his home at 38 Noyes Road in Byron.
Breton asked to borrow a truck with a plow wing because Byron does not have one. It would push back the snow at the road shoulders, he said, which could help if Adams had fallen and got covered with snow.
Breton said he wants to check the areas where Adams normally walked, along with places where he may have been sighted.
Selectman Hart Daley, chief deputy of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, said he would search over roughly a half a mile of road.
Breton said, “I don’t know if there’s any other information out there. I’ve been involved for about a week now, but they’ve been looking for a couple weeks.”
Randy Glover of the Public Works Department said he trusts Breton with the equipment, but it would depend on when he wanted to do it because the town crew is preparing for some good days for cleanup this week with the warming temps.
Breton suggested doing the work on Friday or over the weekend.
He also asked if someone from law enforcement could ride with him and watch the roadsides as they go.
“That would be helpful,” he said.
Breton said he would contact Sheriff Wayne Gallant to see if he could find a volunteer to be a lookout.
“I guess I don’t have a problem with donating the equipment,” Selectman Norm Mitchell said.
It would help bring some closure to the family, Breton said.
“As long as you coordinate it with Randy (Glover),” Selectman Gene Skibitsky added.
Board Chairwoman Norine Clarke asked if there would be another search next weekend.
“I’m going to try to get together another party,” Breton said. “We had 75 to 100 people up there Saturday, searching the woods and around the house, and the side roads as best we could to the river. Sunday, 20 of us went back.”
Adams is described as a white male, 5 feet, 7 inches tall with brownish-gray hair. He usually wears glasses, but reportedly did not have them or his daily medication when he left his home.
Any information about Adams’ location can be directed to the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-733-1421.
bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net
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