County declares POW day
By Don McLoud
Published in News on September 12, 2004 2:04 AM
This week, Wayne County will recognize the sacrifice of local servicemen who were reported prisoners of war or missing in action.
The county commissioners voted last week to observe National POW/MIA Recognition Day on Tuesday. The black POW/MIA flag will be flown over the courthouse that day.
The resolution approved at the Sept. 7 meeting notes that an estimated 50,000 former prisoners of war live in the United States, including seven in Wayne County.
Four Wayne County natives -- Murray Lyman Borden, Edgar Felton David, Joseph Nelson Hargrove and William Carl Sutton -- are still listed as missing in action, the resolution states.
Also last week, the commissioners did the following:
*Met for nearly an hour behind closed doors to discuss an industrial prospect and a personnel matter. They took no official action after returning to open session.
*Appointed interim tax collector Tammy Peele to the job on a permanent basis.
*Canceled the board's Oct. 19 meeting because some officials expect to be out of town that day.
*Rescheduled the November meetings for Nov. 9 and Nov. 23. Four of the commissioners face opponents in the Nov. 2 elections and want to be free to campaign that day.
*Approved updated bylaws for Wayne Health Corporation, operator of Wayne Memorial Hospital. The changes were all minor and reflected current standard practices, according to County Attorney Borden Parker.
*Recognized the Services on Aging for its recent reception of a Ralph W. Ketner employee productivity award.
*Sold a landfill compactor that had previously been declared surplus. Robert Armstrong of Blythewood, S.C., offered $75,500 for the equipment, which he can receive after replacement equipment arrives in December.
*Approved the Health Department's patient fees, eligibility and bad debt write-off policy.