SHOALS — The Martin County Commissioners started the difficult task of replacing a man that has served the county tremendously over the past few years, Gene Shaw. Shaw, 77, died last Tuesday. The former U.S. Army Sgt. Major had lived just a few steps from the Martin County Courthouse, but commissioners said his shoes will be hard to fill. “We lost a really fine public servant,” Commissioner Dan Gregory said. “Yes we lost him, but we had him. “Gene gave so much to Martin County and the country for a long time. He loved Shoals and Martin County, and he will be missed.” Among Shaw’s official capacities were being a member of the county’s Redevelopment Commission, the Westgate @ Crane Authority, the Alcohol Beverage Commission and the Property Tax Reassessment Board of Appeals. Unofficially, Shaw was one of the county’s main supporters of the Westgate @ Crane Tech Park and helped form the three-county alliance that got the development area going. Before the commissioners met, the Redevelopment Commission discussed replacements for Shaw on the board. Several names were mentioned, but an executive session was set for Aug. 9 to discuss candidates. A regular session and a special session of the commissioners will follow. As for other positions, the commissioners are still looking at candidates to fill positions on the WestGate Authority and the Alcohol Beverage Commission. Commissioner Paul George said that Assessor Carolyn Sue McGuire will use an alternate on the appeals board for the time being. Shaw, who was retired from Naval Surface Warfare Center — Crane, was awarded several honors for his work with the tech park. He was awarded the Distinguished Hoosier Award from Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Kentucky Colonel and the Citizen of the Year from the Martin County Chamber of Commerce in 2010. He was also the Co-Grand Marshal of the Catfish Parade in Shoals this year. Shaw also served on the West Boggs Park Board. He was buried last Saturday in Shoals. In other business JAIL REPAIRS The commissioners selected Midwest Engineers for $12,500 to do preliminary engineering for repairs to the Martin County Security Center. The firm was hired based on the advice of the County Council to hire local contractors and to cap costs. Earlier in the meeting, Melvin Beeker with RQAW Engineering updated the commissioners with its proposal for services. Beeker suggested the county could do its engineering on the jail with less money with an open-ended contract. WELLNESS PLAN Gregory informed the other two commissioners that there were not enough county employees interested in a free wellness plan. Only 29 surveys of the employees were returned. Of those, 23 indicated they would participate in the plan. On advice of the county’s insurance representative, the number was not enough to offset costs. “There aren’t quite the numbers we need yet,” Gregory said. VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER New Veterans Service Officer Eric Wade presented his monthly update to the commissioners. He said there are veterans in the county that need services, but have not contacted him. Wade can be contacted at 639-8045.
Local News
- Local News
-
-
Hill arrested on $100K bond
Andrew Logan Hill, 32, Washington, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies on a warrant for petition to revoke a suspended sentence. He remains in the Daviess County Security Center on a $100,000 bond.
-
Cemetery owners plead for time, help
For nearly a century and a half, Daviess County folks have been laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery at the west edge of Washington, but in recent years maintenance of the 23-acre property has declined and people are no longer wanting to bury family members there.
-
Washington High School to graduate 167 Saturday
Washington High School will hold its 135th Commencement Exercises at 2 p.m. today in the high school gymnasium.
-
WC to graduate
Washington Catholic High School Commencement Exercises will be held at 8 p.m. today at the Bird Cage.
-
PC to graduate
PETERSBURG — Pike Central High School will hold its 37th Commencement Exercises at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the high school gymnasium.
-
ND commencement is Friday evening
North Daviess High School will hold it commencement exercises at 7 p.m. Friday.
Following the processional led by North Daviess faculty and juniors Janice Knepp and Cari Jo Wilson, the voluntary invocation will be led by Chelsea Graber. Stacey Beard, class president, will then make welcoming and introductory remarks. -
Fire destroys home in minutes
A Tuesday afternoon fire in rural Daviess County has left a family homeless, although unharmed.
-
Barr-Reeve holds 47th commencement Saturday
Barr-Reeve High School will hold its 47th Commencement Exercises on Saturday afternoon in the high school gymnasium beginning at 2 p.m. Again this year, the graduation will be an afternoon affair.
-
Loogootee to hold graduation Friday
Loogootee Junior/Senior High School Class of 2012 will hold its graduation exercises at 7 p.m. Friday.
-
ND finds ways to use cell phones
A lengthy discussion between North Daviess school board and administrative members concerning future student cell phone usage dominated the board’s Monday meeting.
Board members were considering a second reading for the school’s junior and senior high school handbooks when the discussion began. - More Local News Headlines
-
Hill arrested on $100K bond
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
