Officials sworn-in for 2009

Following Thursday's swearing-in ceremony Clay County's elected officials posed for a group photo. They include, from left: Front--treasurer Carolyn Morrisett, circuit clerk Janet Luff Kilbreath and county clerk Pat Poole. Back--sheriff Gerald McClung, judge Gary Howell, district judge David Copelin and assessor Tracy Gurley. [Click to enlarge]

Local and county officials were sworn-in Thursday, Jan. 1 at the courthouse in Piggott. With the new year the county has a new sheriff, district judge and county clerk, while the other incumbents were all re-elected.

District judge David Copelin was first sworn-in by new clerk Pat Poole, and presided over the ceremony. Actually, Poole; along with new sheriff Gerald McClung and the majority of his deputies, were sworn-in just after midnight.

Thursday morning Poole swore-in the remainder of the officials, along with several JP's, city aldermen from Piggott and McDougal,a variety of constables, McDougal recorder/treasurer Bobby Brown and two more deputies for the sheriff's office. Rector aldermen were scheduled to be sworn-in during a ceremony in that city later in the day, and another swearing-in was conducted that afternoon at the courthouse in Corning.

Complete details and more photos may be found in the Jan. 7 print edition of The Piggott Times.