News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Fentress County Commissioners approved the use of some $20,000 in budgeted funds Monday night for the District Attorney’s office.
Jared Effler said the state recently picked up the salary for Fentress County’s Victim Witness Coordinator. He proposed using the money contributed by commissioners for a part-time administrative role.
“We’re asking that a portion of this be used to let Ms. Hinnard work on a part-time basis to manage the physical aspects of our office so that our victim witness coordinators will not have to worry about those duties and can focus on crime victims,” Effler said.
Effler said the state now pays for all four positions inside the Fentress County District Attorney’s office, providing more stability than ever. Effler said he believed when he made the request to commissioners during the budget cycle that the office might lose its Grand Jury Prosecutor Sarah Davis, because of budget concerns.
“Thankfully, we now have received local funding in Union County,” Effler said. “They’ve contributed $25,000 this year, so part of that will be used to bring Sarah back. We also obviously received $20,000 here from Fentress County, which was good news. Even just as good as news, I believe, is that effective September 1, the district Attorney General’s conference has agreed to transfer your victim witness coordinator here for Fentress County, Becky Crocket, into a state-funded position.”
In other business, the Commission approved adding Thomas Potter and Laryssa King to the Fentress County Library Board. Terms will end in 2027.
The county will also apply for a Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy Place grant to fund upgrade South Fentress Park. The money would be used for renovations to the park.
