MONEY TALKS & BUYS ELECTIONS

Susan Holmes, former Mayor of Monticello and current State Representative has been passing out campaign contributions.

Those that have actually reported contributions from Rep. Holmes are newly elected District 3 Commissioner, Gene Trammell ($500), and District 4 hopeful, Craig Salmon ($200).  Both these men serve on the Jasper County Water Authority.

Ms. Holmes could not control the last Board of Commissioners, but seems destined to have the new BOC under control.  She has long had Commissioner Carl Pennamon in her pocket, and it appears she and her friends are working hard to defeat current commissioner Charles Hill.

We can only hope that the new BOC will have more sense about financial matters than Holmes exhibited during her terms as Mayor of Monticello.

Money talks and buys elections.  It has always been the Jasper County Way!

Greg Sands--Why sit out on unpaid leave when you can draw Workers Compensation?

The Sheriff of Jasper County has a rule.  If you run for office, you have to go on unpaid leave when you qualify to run for office.

Several deputies, including Greg Sands, qualified to run for Sheriff.  Rick Cook and Donnie Pope both went on unpaid leave when they qualified to run on the Republican ticket.  Mr. Sands, who qualified as a Democrat, went on workers compensation just a week or so before he was go on unpaid leave.


Instead of having to go without pay, somehow Mr. Sands' own daughter ran into his patrol car as he was driving toward Larry's Four Way Stop on Highway 212 just a week or so before having to go on leave.  No one seems to know about this unusual and coincidental situation.

Greg Sands for Sheriff?  Why sit out on unpaid leave when you can draw Workers Compensation?  It's the Jasper County Way.

School's Finance Director Gets Raise while Teachers Stay on Furlough

The Monticello News recently reported that the School Board approved a Finance Director position.  (Hannah Pope, Thurs, Sep 13, 2012)  This is a new position that will be filled by Anne Harrison, current system accountant.

This vote was taken after a roughly one hour executive session during a called meeting August 30. School Board member Bobby Norris was not in favor of the motion.  This position will take the place of the Assistant Superintendent position that was vacated by Eric Arena before the start of the 2012 school year.

Rumors are that Ms. Harrison will be getting a $17,000 per year raise along with her new title.What is the difference in job duties between a system accountant and a finance director?

Teachers are having to take furlough days and cuts have been made to the number of days students attend school due to lack of funds.  There are also rumors of bus drivers, secretaries, and other non-professional personnel not being able to receive health insurance benefits.

No money in the budget, but a new title means a big pay raise, while those that teach are on furlough.  It's the Jasper County Way!