Pope officials to be sworn in today; others next week

By John Howell
Pope’s mayor and aldermen will be sworn in today at 6 p.m. as municipal officials throughout Panola County and the state prepare to begin new four-year terms.
Judge Jay Westfaul will preside this afternoon as Pope Mayor Jamie Howell and aldermen Michael Boyette, Jessie Flowers, Don Jenkins, Justin Pope and De Ann Rikard are sworn in.
The swearing in of Crenshaw’s mayor and aldermen will follow next week at the Crenshaw Fire Department. On Monday, June 26, Mayor Oscar Barlow and aldermen Catherine Bradley, Alberta Bradley, Patricia Dodson, Jerry Mayor and Wardell Reed will be sworn in at 6:30 p.m.
Como town officials will be sworn in the meeting room of the public library at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 28. Circuit Judge Smith Murphey will administer oaths of office to Mayor Everette Hill and aldermen Teresa Dishmon, Tonia Heard, Ruby Higgenbottom, Melvin Crockett and John Walton.
Batesville’s ceremony has been set for 10 a.m. Friday, June 30 at City Hall. Judge Murphey will administer oaths to Mayor Jerry Autrey and aldermen Bill Dugger, Bobby Walton, Stan Harrison, Dennis Land and Teddy Morrow.
The swearing in of Sardis officials will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, at the Panola Courthouse in Sardis. Taking the oath will be Mayor Lula Palmer and aldermen Clarence Jones, Joseph Still, Thomas Rayburn, Bonnie Smith and Michael Price. The officiant is to be announced.
The ceremonies to swear in officials in Courtland and Crowder will both take place on Thursday, July 6.
In Courtland, Mayor Debbie Aven and aldermen Gerald Aven, Clifford Olson, Mary Katherine Baglan, Carolyn Kilgore and Chase Baglan will be sworn in at town hall at 7 p.m. The officiant will be announced.
Likewise in Crowder at 7 p.m. Mayor Tommy Dorris and aldermen Russell Cox, Darron Washington, Joe Cole, Walter Shegog Jr. and Peggy Griffin will be sworn in at town hall. Judge Michael Roy will officiate.