Elected officials take oath of office on Jan. 1
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Several elected officials took the oath of office on January 1, in front of a crowd in the lobby of the Ripley County Courthouse in Versailles.

The foggy mist didn't keep those away who wanted to support the elected officials as they took their pledge to faithfully and honestly serve the people of Ripley County who voted for them.

Superior Court Judge James Morris administered oaths to seven Republicans taking office. They included: Earlene Copeland, treasurer; Charles (Chuck) Folz, commissioner; Eric Karsteter, coroner; Lawrence Nickell, commissioner; Mark Busching, council; Amy Copeland, first deputy treasurer; Mari Thielking, second deputy treasurer; and Ben Peetz, council.

State Representative Cleo Duncan was in attendance for the ceremony and administered the oath to Donald Dunbar, council member. Duncan noted it was a great honor for her to participate in the ceremony and give the oath to Dunbar since his father Ralph Dunbar, had been a state representative for many years. "It's a great honor for me to do this," she told the crowd.

Ripley County Republican Chairman Kenneth Copeland spoke to the crowd, thanking them for their service to the community. "Never forget who put you in office - the voting public," he admonished those newly elected, ones who were re-elected and others holding offices in the crowd.

Ben Peetz, who is the youngest council member and a new face to politics in Ripley County, noted that he is "excited to begin serving on the council."

The ceremony, which began at 10:00 a.m., concluded to refreshments of cake and punch provided by the Republican Women's Club.