Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County Elected Officials Invested In New Jobs

BY JOHN MILLER

With the dawn of the new year came the swearing in of new elected officials in Clark County.

A good crowd was on hand at the Third Street Baptist Church in spite of the nasty weather outside.

Torrential rains fell while pastor Gary Turner welcomed the guests and gave the opening invocation.

Kara Thomas entertained the audience with her rendition of the national anthem, and State Rep. Percy Malone presented the new Clark County Judge, Floyd "Buddy" Manning, with new state and U.S. flags for the courthouse.

Then it was time for W.H. "Dub" Arnold, chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court to swear the elected officials in.

He began by swearing in the newly-elected judges, beginning with circuit-chancery judge John Thomas, joking and reminiscing about the old days the two had when Thomas first started out.

Thomas was presented his first judge's robe, and was assisted in putting it on by his daughter.

Randy Hill and his clerks followed, being sworn in by Arnold, as he went down the list one-by-one for the officials and welcomed the deputies into office en masse.

After Hill came the 9th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Henry Morgan and his deputies.

Next up was Manning, followed by Clark County Sheriff Troy Tucker and his crew of sheriff's deputies and collector's deputies.

Pamela King and her crew was next as the circuit-chancery clerk, with Rhonda Williams and her staff installed a the new county clerk.

Wanda Knight and her deputies were welcomed to the Clark County Assessor's Office, with Judy Beth Hutcherson and her deputy installed in the treasurer's office.

Next up was the Clark County Quorum Court, sworn in as a body. The court, for the next two years, will consist of: R.H. "Dick" Batson, Mike Cox, John B. Howard, Jonathan Huber, Bill Moorman, Larry Thomerson, Bill Conine, Juanita "Dot" Curry, Jim Hatley, Billy C. Kirksey and Albert Neal.

They were followed by Scott Wyatt and his deputies in the coroner's office.

Officials from the county's cities, at least those who were present, were sworn in as well.

One of the final positions to be sworn in was the constable post for the Caddo Township. Gurdon Police officer Frank Plasek stood proudly before Arnold as he took the oath of office as constable for this area.

Once the swearing in was completed, Turner charged those officials to do their best and be fair in doing their duties.

Arnold also had a good time with the ceremonies. At the conclusion, he told all he was in a swearing in mood and asked everyone present to raise their right hands and be sworn in.

This brought a laugh from the audience, which adjourned for refreshments.