Local Updates Alert: EDC and Union County Sheriff
Well, hopefully I can recover from my site retooling, and actually spend some time on a post.
No big surprise, but EDC President Don Holbrook is out. The EDC board spent 10 minutes in public “making” the determination (which had already been decided in closed session.
But Holbrook is not done yet, he says he might sue. Remember, he sued his last employer over his termination from that job. The firing is being reported to have been “without cause,” so the EDC will owe Holbrook a parting gift of about $53,500.00 in severance pay. But Holbrook is not saying if this is enough:
EDC attorney George Sowers said the EDC’s previous actions shouldn’t have legal ramifications on Tuesday’s decision to fire Holbrook. The board voted to fire Holbrook without cause, which Sowers said gives them much leeway.
“I don’t think the prior decisions really jeopardize that decision,” Sowers said.
Holbrook wouldn’t say whether he’s considering legal action against the board.
Or the EDC staff, the county commissioners, the newspaper, etc.
Things cannot seem to settle down for Union County Sheriff Steve Leverton. Monday he demoted his chief deputy after the deputy filed to run against him. Link (Pal-Item). But the Sheriff says the deputy had it coming:
I was dissatisfied with (Laird’s) job performance and have been for some time,” Leverton said. “We had differing views on the direction of the department and it was affecting our operation. I have to run this office for the benefit of everyone and not for the election. If it was dirty tricks, why haven’t I done something to (Deputy) Eric Cantrell or kicked Scott Campbell off the reserves?”
The article also points out one of the more quaint aspects of the Union County justice system:
Law enforcement in small, rural Indiana counties was once a family affair operated by a couple who served as sheriff and matron. Union County’s jail now has two husband-wife teams. Besides the Levertons, Laird and his wife, Julie, also work there. Julie Laird is a jail officer.
February 2nd, 2006 05:00
What amazes me about Union County is even with all the turmoil between the Sheriff office and just about every other public agency is all the people willing to run for that office. Good Luck to whoever wins
February 9th, 2006 14:20
If you go back and look at articles about Sheriff leverton and laird you would see that leverton does nothing but praise laird on the good job he is doing. wheather it be busting meth labs, or everyday buisness, Leverton had nothing bad to say about him.Now all of a sudden Laird has been doing a bad job and has deserved this demotion for over a year now.Laird is in no way a good person, let alone fit to be working in law enforcement of any kind, but for leverton to say that his demotion has been coming for some time now, is a load of crap. If you ask me, the only one they look out for are themselves and they will do whatever it takes to get what they want. I know that they are both low down, dirty scums of the earth and want nothing more than to further thier career status, no matter who they run over to get it.In my opinion, one is as dirty as the other, and in the past they proved it.In the future it will be proved.
February 6th, 2008 04:04
Speeding: An excellent law destroyed by dumb enforcement….
The offence of exceeding the speed limit was sensibly created to improve road safety and offer guidance to drivers….