Year in Review
January
Several new county officials take oath of office
 | | Several new county officials took office in January, including Sheriff Bobby Moore, left, who was sworn in by Judge Bill Kimbrough as his wife, Kathy, held the Bible. |
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Grove Hill natives David and Mary Mathews were among the mourners at the Washington D. C. state funeral of former President Gerald R. Ford on Jan. 2. Ford died at his home in California on Dec. 26 at the age of 93. Ford, a Michigan congressman, was first tapped to be appointed vice president when Spiro Agnew resigned after being charged with tax evasion in 1973. Then when President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 as the Watergate scandal was closing in on him, Ford became president. In 1975 he appointed Dr. Mathews, then president of the University of Alabama, to be secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, at the time one of the largest departments of government with a staff of over 128,000 and an annual budget of $150 billion. Mathews, then 40, would serve the remainder of Ford's term, leaving in January 1977 when Ford turned the presidency over to Jimmy Carter who had defeated him in the 1976 general election. Mathews spoke fondly of his old boss after Ford's death. "He was very independent minded and he was loyal to his party [the Republican party] but I never recall him being ideological about it. He was very pragmatic and he knew the limits of partisanship."
 | | There were retirements too. From left, Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb attended the retirement of Judicial Assistant Shirley Robinson and Circuit Judge Harold Crow. |
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The changing of the guard in several elected offices was noted. Bobby Moore, a longtime employee of the Clarke County Sheriff's Department, was sworn in as sheriff; Jay Duke moved from being Clarke County Revenue Commissioner to become Clarke County Circuit Clerk; and Kevin Brunson took the oath to become the new county coroner. All three men had been elected in the November general election.
Chris Beverly, a longtime employee in the County Revenue Department, was tapped by Gov. Bob Riley to fill the vacancy in the revenue commissioner's post due to Duke becoming circuit clerk.
A retirement party also recognized Circuit Judge Harold Crow. Crow stepped down after 27 years as a district or circuit judge. He was succeeded by Stuart DuBose who was elected in November and had a swearing in ceremony in December.
A lot of construction and industrial news was detailed. Gulf Lumber purchased the closed Boise Sawmill and announced plans to reopen the facility. New Era Cap Co. began work on a $2 million expansion at its Jackson plant that would create at least 40 new jobs. An $8 million plastic plant was also announced for Thomasville but has not materialized.
Ground was broken in Grove Hill for a new 10,000 square foot Clarke County Health Department on Highway 84 East. Construction is nearing completion now on the $1.5 million facility.
Newly-elected State Rep. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, was appointed to two important House committees by House Speaker Seth Hammett. Keahey was appointed to the Judiciary Committee and the Agriculture and Forestry Committee.
Helen Drinkard retired from the Clarke County office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System after 28 years.
Fruit of the Loom purchased Vanity Fair Intimates, including a knitting plant in Jackson that works just under 100 people.
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