Barron “Boots” Hetherington, 66, Ringtown, attended his first Schuylkill County Commissioners’ meeting Wednesday, participating by teleconference call. Hetherington has been chosen to fill the unexpired term of Schuylkill County Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier, who passed away Feb. 29.

Hetherington was chosen by vote of the five Schuylkill County judges, and President Judge William E. Baldwin filed a court order naming Hetherington to the post Tuesday afternoon. Baldwin said Wednesday that Hetherington will be sworn in at 9 a.m. April 16.

“It will just be attended by Hetherington and his family, the two commissioners and any of the judges who are available,” Baldwin said. “We’ll have a full ceremony at a later date.”

During the public comment portion of the commissioners’ salary board meeting, Hetherington greeted the commissioners.

“I look forward to working with all the fine people at the courthouse,” Hetherington said. “I welcome the opportunity to serve and make the county a better place.”

Hetherington, 66, is a 1975 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in engineering. He and his wife, Robin, own and run the 400-acre B&R Farm in Union Township. Hetherington serves as auditor for Union Township.

He is a member and past chair of the Schuylkill County Conservation District board and a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. He directed the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association from 1982-2012.