In ceremonies Thursday evening and Friday morning, August 31 and September 1, four newly elected county-wide officials were sworn into office, with family, friends, visiting dignitaries and the general public looking on.

At the Macon County Justice Center Thursday evening at 6 p.m., Sheriff-Elect Mark Gammons was sworn into office by County Court Clerk James R. Howser. Following the sheriff in taking oaths of office were deputies, jailors, dispatchers and other Sheriff's Department employees.

Sheriff Gammons was congratulated and welcomed into office by Lafayette Police Chief Jerry Dallas, and the two men pledged cooperation in county-wide law enforcement by the two departments.

Circuit Court Clerk -elect Rick Gann was also sworn in to office Thursday evening, August 31 at the Justice Center, with his proud family looking on.  Deputy clerks Teresa Thomas, Glenda Brown, April Hix, and Beth Freeman, along with probation officers Millie King, Jackie Meador and Tim Carter were also administered the oath of office by J.R. Howser.

Then early Friday morning, September 1, County Mayor-elect Shelvy Linville was sworn into office before a standing-room-only main courtroom audiance at the Macon County Courthouse in Lafayette. Linville pledged to work for all the people in the county and to do his best to bring new industry and jobs to Macon County.

Linville introduced his office staff to the audience, with the long-serving bookkeeper and accountant Anita Hesson (18 years), and payroll clerk Alicia King (6 years) being joined by adminisrative assistant Tammy Russell in managing the day to day affairs of the county mayor's office.

Mayor Linville also thanked his wife of 43 years, Gwen Linville, for her untiring support over the years of their long marriage and for enduring the...rigors of the recent election campaign.

“I will make every effort on behalf of the people of the county, to live up to the trust they've given me, and pledge faithfully that for the next four years I will never let them down,” said Mayor Linville.

This Tuesday Linville reported he and his staff were busy working on the  2006-07 county budget that will be presented to the new county commission next Monday night, September 11 at 7 p.m. for their consideration.

TRUSTEE-elect Diane Cook  was also sworn into office early Friday morning, administed the oath of office by County Court Clerk James R. Howser. Ms. Cook said her friendly and experienced deputies, Nancy Fishburn and Marilyn Goodman had agreed to stay on the job, and she looked forward to serving the people of Macon County as their elected Trustee.

Sheriff's department personnel changes:

Early this week, Sheriff Mark Gammons announced several personnel changes at the Macon County Sheriff's Department.

Former THP Trooper Danny Fisher is the new Sheriff's Chief Deputy. Sergeant Danny Gross was promoted to Captain, and Deputy Ira Meador was promoted to Sergeant.

Benny Hudgens joins Jimmy Hardin and Bill Cothron as a Detective, and Bob Partin is the new Jail Administrator.