Ceremony begins service of elected officials
By JOE REDMON Upwards of about 250 members of our community, family members, and well-wishers croweded into the Meade County Courthouse Dec. 29 to ceremonially mark the results wrought by our last election. Circuit Court Judges Sam Monarch and Robert Miller administered the oath of office to new public officials from throughout Meade County. Circuit Court Judges Bruce Butler and Rober Miller took oaths administered by Monarch. Before doing so, Monarch briefly described the history and importance of oaths to the assemblage. Judge Executive Harry Craycroft (D) led a contingent of new faces populating county government. County Attorney Margaret Matney (R) and Sheriff Butch Kerrick (R) have never held elective office, while Jailer Troy Seelye (D) took his oath of office a second time in the wake of his reelection Nov. 7. Each of these full-time county leaders assumes their duties in the face of large responsibilities directly in front of them: a potential legal problem between Meade County and Brandenburg over the administration of E-911 addressing standards; the looming bankruptcy of the Meade County Solid Waste & Recycle (MCSW&R) and the legal challenges involved in taking necessary action; These new leaders will be challenged immediately in the new year.
Six magistrates were sworn in together: 1st District Independent Tom Goddard (Muldraugh, Grahamton, Woodland), re-elected 2nd District Democrat Herbie Chism (Rock Haven-Doe Valley, Weldon-Doe Run), 3rd District Democrat Mark Hubbard (Flaherty, Guston, Otter Creek), 4th District Democrat Tony Staples (Brandenburg East and West, Ashcraft), 5th District Republican Steve Wardrip (Ekron, Buck Grove, Garrett), and 6th District Democrat Randall Hardesty (Payneville, Battletown, Sirocco-Midway, Concordia-Wolf Creek). The magistrates will have to start work right away, as Judge Executive Craycroft announced his first special meeting, Jan. 2. According to Craycroft, the agenda will focus upon administrative details and action regarding the MCSW&R will occur at the regularly scheduled Jan. 9 meeting. David Pace officially assumed the mayoral duties for the Brandenburg city government. The only change on Brandenburg’s city council had Ronnie Joyner replacing Bradley Johnston on the city council. The six-member city council, including the re-elected Scotty Applegate, Bruce Fackler, Margaret Love, Carol Nelson, and Patsy Lusk were sworn in by Judge Miller en masse. Officials of Meade County’s other cities – Ekron and Muldraugh – were also sworn in. Muldraugh’s mayor, Danny Joe Tate, returns, along with Councilpersons Donnie Basham and Curtis Kelley. The remaining council members are newly elected: Brenda W. Carlberg, John C. Haynes, Ron Heschke and Ralph Lee. Ekron’s new commission is a fairly even split between new and returning: Ekron Mayor Gwynne Ison returns, along with Commissioners Rose Betlej and Joyce McHolan. Melena Shilts and Pamela Troutman join as new commissioners.
After the ceremony, Craycroft thanked the attending citizens and judges for their time and thanked outgoing Judge Executive Bill Haynes as well as the outgoing Fiscal Court. He commented that election day was over, it was time to forget about the R and D and move forward. He added he was commited to working together on the future.
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Photo by Sandra Stone
Photo by Sandra Stone
Photo by Sandra Stone