More than four dozen candidates beat the filing deadline

As the filing deadline for the Aug. 7 primary election drew to a close at 5 p.m., Tuesday, one more candidate for Vernon County sheriff threw his hat into the ring a couple hours under the wire, paid the $50 filing fee and added his name to the long list. At 2:10 p.m., Republican candidate Greg Kepler of Nevada joined nine other residents wanting Sheriff Ron Peckman's job.

OtherRepublicans filing for the office are Jeffrey Prater of Bronaugh, Joe Colin of Nevada, John Gazaway of Nevada, Marty Hill of Milo and Jason Mosher of Milo. Democrats filing for the position are incumbent Ron Peckman of Richards, Michael Bullinger of Nevada and Todd Joseph Davis of Nevada.

The sheriff's is the most sought after position, but the seat being vacated by the Republican Vernon County Southern Commissioner Kennon Shaw has generated a lot of interest as well. Nine men and women have filed for Shaw's seat on the commission.

The Republican candidates are Bill Nance of Sheldon, Clifford Whitworth of Moundville and Everett Wolfe of Deerfield. Democrats wanting the job are Jill Couch of Moundville, Gary Herstein of Nevada, Donna Sheets of Nevada, Tommy Wait of Bronaugh, H.M. Logan of Sheldon and David Shaw of Milo.

Another county office with a contest is that of county assessor.

Democratic incumbent Cherie K. Roberts of Walker will again square off with fellow Democrat Sally Jones of Nevada in a rematch of the last election. One Democrat, incumbent Tammy Bond of Nevada, and one Republican, Clay Lyons Jr. of Rich Hill, have both filed for the public administrator's position.

Democratic incumbent Phil Couch will run unopposed for the collector/treasurer's position and David Ferry, a Democrat, will be the only name in the hat for the county coroner's job.

There are also many seats up for grabs on the various township committees. The Center Township candidate for committeewoman in Ward 3 is Republican Adriel Koller of Nevada and the Republican committeeman candidate is Theodore Koller. Ward 4 in Center Township has Republican committeewoman candidate Valo Jones of Nevada and Republican Robert S. Jones, also of Nevada, is seeking the committeeman seat. The Center Township committeeman (outside) candidate is Democrat James M. Earll of Nevada and Democrat Twila J. Earll of Nevada is seeking the outside committeewoman's position.

There are two candidates running unopposed in Dover Township. Republicans Darrell and Frieda Hickman, both of Milo, have filed for the committeeman and committeewoman positions in that township. In Drywood Township, Paul Sprenkle and Phyllis Sprenkle from Sheldon have filed as Democratic candidates for the committeeman and committeewoman seats.

Gerald R. Wadel, a Republican from Richards is seeking the committeeman position in Metz Township, and Susanna Cass of Rich Hill is a Republican filing for the committeewoman seat in the Metz township.

In the Moundville Township, Michael A. Morris, a Republican and Norman Noel, of Bronaugh a Democrat, have both filed for the committeeman slot. Republicans Betty L. Morris and Nancy L. Thompson, both of Moundville, and Democrat Rosemary Noel of Bronaugh have all filed for the committeewoman's position.

Republican Clay Lyons of Rich Hill has filed for the committeeman's seat in Osage Township and Priscilla Lyons, also of Rich Hill, has filed as a Republican for the committeewoman's job.

In Virgil Township, Republicans Jay Bow-master of Milo and Barbara York of El Dorado Springs are vying for the committeeman's and committeewoman's responsibilities.

In Washington Town-ship, Republican Scott Buerge of Nevada will face Democratic opponent Tom Pyle, also from Nevada, for committeeman, and Char-lotte Buerge, a Republican from Nevada, will run against Democrat Virginia Pyle of Nevada for the committeewoman's seat.