By JAN GRIFFEY/Editor

VANDIVER — Vandiver voters have elected five trustees to serve as the governing board of its recently formed Fire and Emergency Medical Service District.

On March 30, by a healthy margin, Vandiver voters approved the formation of a fire district to support the Vandiver Fire and Emergency Services Department.

The approval of the fire district means residents within it will be assessed $50 per year per dwelling to support the operation of the department and continue its services.

On Sept. 14, Vandiver voters went back to the polls and elected Sharon Sweezey as trustee for Place 1; Joseph Mitchell Stange as trustee for Place 2; Raymond Whitehead as trustee for Place 3; Betty Sue Brasher as trustee for Place 4; and Paul W. Brasher as trustee for Place 5.

In Place 1, Sweezey with 189 votes topped board candidates Ben Hudachek, who earned 160 votes and Frankie Overton, 181 votes.

In Place 2, Stange earned 192 votes to Walter Marion Watson’s 183 and John Ruport, 154.

In Place 3, Whitehead with 234 votes earned a spot on the board over Teresa Renee Overton, who garnered 144 votes, and Anthony Pipp, who received 151 votes.

In Place 4, Betty Sue Brasher was the top vote getter with 300 votes to Tony Colafrancesco’s 141 votes and Jason K. Watson’s 87 votes.

In Place 5, Paul Brasher received 190 votes while Tommy Elie earned 152 and John R. “Pete” Gay received 183.

Shortly after the election results were in, the successful candidates gathered for their first meeting and elected a slate of officers.

Those include:

• Sharon Sweezey, president.

• Joseph Mitchell Stange, vice president.

• Betty Sue Brasher, treasurer.

• Raymond Whitehead, secretary.

• Paul Brasher, Trustee.

As their first order of business, the board re-appointed Dennis Brasher as Vandiver fire chief.