Purple Heart recipients and veterans with the courthouse staff.
Tucker County is now considered a Purple Heart County. A proclamation was read at the meeting, which stated, “The mission of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, chartered by an act of Congress, is to foster an environment of goodwill among the combat wounded veterans and their families, promote patriotism, support legislative initiatives, and more importantly, make sure we never forget.”
Three Purple Heart recipients were honored at the meeting, including Daniel Evans, Truman Phillips, and Lester Hinkle. Family members of recipients and veterans were also honored at the meeting. All of the courthouse offices were present at the meeting in honor of those who served.
Tucker Community Foundation Development Director Kelly Stadleman asked the Commission for $5,000 for the 12th annual Run For It event. Over the previous five years, the Commission contributed $45,000 to the event.
Stadleman reported that the Commission’s investment return was over $750,000. Tucker Community Foundation is seeking to raise $110,000 for the project.
“What I like about the event is, that it not only engaged over 700 Tucker Countians in a healthy activity, but the impact of the money that goes to over 20 organizations is impacting thousands of people,” Commission President Diane Hinkle said.
The Commission will consider this proposal during their budget meetings in March. “It’s a win, win situation, we know that. We just have to wait until our budget,” Commissioner Lowell Moore said.
The Tucker County Libraries presented their recent projects and missions. For this year, they requested the $11,000 in funding as they received from the Commission in years passed, plus an extra $1,000. Again, the commissioners asked the libraries to wait until the they consider their budget.
County Clerk Sherry Simmons reported that the clerk’s office received $8,660 in grants for the 2018 fiscal year to restore and encapsulate the assessor’s 1899 land book, to purchase three computers, and a scanner system.
Office of 911 Director Brett Ware presented the January statistics. There were 514 requests for service, “Which is approximately 200 more than average,” Ware said. The office is seeking to reduce the number of 911 hang up calls they receive.