Swearing in ceremonies for county officials were held in December. Shown above (l-r), new officers include Clerk of Court Melissa Howard, Magistrate Judge Shelly Herndon and Tax Commissioner Nicole Scurry. Howard, Herndon and Scurry all ran unopposed in the 2024 election. Howard succeeds Thomas Sauls and Scurry succeeds Terresa Davis. Sauls and Davis retired following the 2024 term. Herndon succeeds former magistrate Terry Thrift. Thrift was appointed to fill the term left by the resignation of Judge Glenda Dowling when she retired. Thrift decided not to run for a term in his own right. Pictured top right is Sheriff Ramsey Bennett, taking the oath of office for a fourth term. Bottom right is Coroner William Wilson, sworn in to a fourth term in office last week. Other officers sworn in to new terms but not pictured are Probate Judge Moye Howard, Third District County Commissioner Randy Dixon, First District School Board Member Kirby Malone and Third District School Board Member Chip Griner. Dixon was first elected in a special election in 2006 and has won re-election four times. Malone is beginning his second term and Howard and Griner are beginning their third terms. Below is Probate Judge Moye Howard, administering the oath of office to new First district County Commissioner Troy Mattox. Mattox, former chairman of the commission and former radio station owner, was elected in the May, 2024 primary, defeating three term incumbent Harold Rozier Jr.
