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As an employee in the Helena Public Works department, Blake Mishoe spends his days taking care of the city he calls home.

“Our main job is to keep the city’s roads and easements functional, but help with various tasks all around the city,” Blake said. “We patch potholes and small section of road where other departments may have done work, maintain and repair city street signage, clean up after storms, fix and clear storm drains, cut grass, help clean up after public events and the list goes on.”

Blake shared that he does not have a single favorite thing about his job.

“I enjoy the people that I get to work with, there are a variety of tasks to be done at any given time so work doesn’t get monotonous and I get to be outside,” Blake said.

When 9/11 occurred during Blake’s senior year of high school, he joined the Alabama Army National Guard and served until 2010, with a tour of duty in Iraq from November 2004 to February 2006.

After leaving the military, Blake and his wife, Carissa, moved around the country from San Diego to San Antonio and landed in Helena six years ago to put down roots for their two daughters, Reagen (16) and Jesse (13), and their three dogs, Mila, Luna and Goose.

“What makes Helena special to me is the small town feel and close community,” Blake said. “There are always new people to meet but you also can’t go anywhere without running into someone that you know. It has been a great place for our family.”