BOLLINGER OFFICIALS TO BE SWORN IN

MARBLE HILL -- At least three new officials will be among officeholders sworn in for new terms Friday in Bollinger County.

A fourth new official could be sworn in if Gov. Mel Carnahan decides by then who to appoint to fill a vacancy for prosecuting attorney that will occur at the end of the year.

Among the new officials to be sworn in by County Clerk Diane Holzum at 3:30 p.m. in the circuit courtroom: Sharon Lutes, who will be circuit clerk and recorder of deeds; Scott Thomsen, who will be associate circuit judge; and Bob Anderson, who was elected county collector.

No one filed for prosecuting attorney in Bollinger County this year, and the term of two-term incumbent Paul Hahn expires at the end of the year.

Filling the vacancy falls to the governor. The county Democratic Central Committee recommended that Scott Reynolds, a Cape Girardeau lawyer who recently moved to Bollinger County, be named to the office.

But Associate Circuit Judge Bill Hopkins, who lost his bid for a sixth four-year term to Republican Thomsen, has actively sought the governor's appointment.

The governor is expected to name a prosecutor any day so that there will be someone on the job when the new year begins.

Lutes, a Republican, won her job by defeating incumbent Mary Hager. Anderson, a Democrat, will replace Dale Bollinger, who is retiring after 24 years in the collector's office.

Although Anderson will be sworn in Friday, the actual terms for collectors do not begin until March 1.

Among officeholders to be sworn in for new terms are all three members of the Bollinger County Commission, Naomi Null as treasurer, and Holzum.

Presiding Commissioner Elwood Mouser, a Republican, will start a second four-year term while Democrat Junior Cook in the 2nd District and Republican Jerry Woodfin in the 1st District will be sworn in for their fifth two-year terms as associate commissioners.

Null and Holzum, both Republicans, will start their third four-year terms.

Except for collector, all terms begin Jan. 1.