Staff Report

The Bell County Fiscal Court passed a resolution during its regular meeting to recognize January as School Board Recognition Month.

The resolution recognizes all three school districts in the county. Recognized through the resolution include:

• Bell County Board of Education — Eulene Brock, Dean Knuckles, Brent Pursifull, Kenneth Sams and Sheb Stewart;
• Pineville Independent Board of Education — Clark Jones, James Golden, Jeanette Cawood, Robert Roan and Ann Combs Gaines;
• Middlesboro Independent Board of Education — Bill Johnson, Kenny Pratt, Jimmie Joyce Jones, Jeff Greene and Charlotte Webb.

Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock stated that while they are elected officials, these individuals get paid very little and take a large amount of criticism.

“We should appreciate the fact they are willing to serve,” said Brock. “They are basically doing it on a voluntary basis. They are entrusted with our most prized possessions — our children.”

Brock also praised the Bell County Sheriff’s Department for finding missing teenager Madison York. York went missing about a week ago and was found quickly by the sheriff’s department in Connecticut and transported home shortly after the discovery.