Camp Sherman awaits road count

Voters in Camp Sherman were still waiting as of Monday, June 1, to see if the Road District 18 levy has passed.

The measure was ahead overwhelmingly with 124 yes votes (90 percent) and 14 no votes (10 percent) but Elaine Henderson, Jefferson County Clerk, was still checking valid signatures and absentee ballots.

Since this is a budgetary vote, a 50 percent turnout is needed for a valid election.

While it looks like there was a sufficient turnout of voters in the Road District 18 election, that was not yet certified by the Secretary of State.

The levy is for approximately $8,888, which, if approved, would be added to previous funds making more than $17,000 available for fiscal year 1998-99 operations.

The Road District 18 committee voted to put $10,000 in reserve to use, if needed, to maintain Deputy Sheriff Dave Blann's position at Camp Sherman.

There is a budgetary shortfall of $1.2 million in Jefferson County and this has impacted in many departments, including the sheriff's.

To further complicate Sheriff Department matters in Jefferson County, Sheriff Jack Jones, the incumbent, drew only 41 percent of the vote on May 19 for the sheriff's job.

Jim Adkins was the winner in the three-way primary election but failed to get the 50 percent majority needed for election.

Jones, therefore, faces a very difficult challenge in November's election.

For final results, call the Jefferson County Clerk's office in Madras at 541-475-4451.