Friday's Internet Edition, August 08, 2008.
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| Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Metz, center, commander of Multinational Force-Iraq since May 15, says the way ahead after the June 30 transition requires more art than science in leadership skills as he balances his resources with the security priorities in Iraq. Metz recently visited the area patrolled by the 1st Infantry Division in north central Iraq. Metz relinquished command of III Corps and Fort Hood to assume command in Iraq. – Courtesy photo |
Leader-Press correspondent - GATESVILLE – Coryell County commissioners on Monday appointed election judges for the general election upcoming in November.
The group of 38 includes 19 election judges selected by the Coryell County Republican Party and 19 alternates chosen by the county’s Democratic Party leadership. County Clerk Barbara Simpson said state law requires that precinct election judges be selected by the party that polls the most voters in the last governor’s election. For the first time in history, Simpson said, the GOP selected each precinct judge in the county.
The list includes: (Precinct No., Location, Judge’s Name, Alternate Judge) 105, Cove Civic Center, Earnest Remedies, Harry Tooker; 108, Pearl Community Center, Ed Turner, Cynthia Smith; 109, Evant City Hall, Bill Wheeless, Alma Green; 110, Levita Baptist Church, Jenise Miller, vacant; 111, Purmela Baptist Church, Bernice Hemphill, Linda Dyer; 116, King Baptist Church, Tony McClenny, Joyce Young; 117, Fairview Community Center, Mary Ables, Mary Howell; 202, Courthouse, Myron “Mike” Meier, Gene Whittle; 213, Coryell City Lutheran Church, Dodie Kettler, Bettie Mattiza; 219, Copperas Cove Junior High School, Janie French, Doris McCrary; 303, Coryell Activities Center, Faye Horton, Phyllis Harvey; 312, The Grove Community Center, Carl Symm, JoMarie Matheny; 314, Flat Community Center, Carla Henderson, Betty Haynes; 315, Oglesby Community Center, Dorretha Speer, Diane Hamilton; 320, vacant; 401, Copperas Cove City Hall, Garry Paris, Dorthy McLendon; 404, Gatesville Senior Center, Dustin Boyd, Madgaline Benson; 406, Turnersville Community Center, Don Gartman, J.W. Shults; 407, Jonesboro Methodist Church, Winnie Alexander, Ruby Young; 418, Cove City Annex, Raul Jimenez, Robbie Langford.
Simpson also said she would serve as count station supervisor, Peter Simpson will serve as count station judge and Dean Frost was appointed to serve as technical advisor.
The court also formally cancelled the meeting set for next Monday because July 5th will be taken as a holiday. The next meeting now is set for Monday July 12 at 9 a.m. in the basement Commissioners Courtroom in the county courthouse in Gatesville. The meetings are open to the public.
County Auditor Ben Roberts reported he was studying pay increases for starting positions in the county workforce. Roberts said starting salaries have not been increased in Coryell County in the 13 years he has served as auditor.
“We have a 2.5-percent cost of living increase and we need to keep up with that,” he said. Roberts said the figures come from the federal government. “I check with the banks every year and they give me the new numbers,” Roberts told the court. “If we would begin to give a portion of the cost of living each year, we would not have to take a big step like we do right now.”
The commissioners took no action because the issue will be included in budget numbers for the coming fiscal year, Roberts said.
The county payroll positions most affected will include Sheriff’s Office jailers, deputies and road hands, Roberts said. “If you look at the numbers, that’s where the most turnover is. Then we have trouble replacing those positions when they are vacant because the starting salaries are so low.”
The commissioners agreed and directed Roberts to take the increases into account when the next budget is drafted.