SCOTT CO. REJECTS GAMBLING

BENTON -- Scott County voters rejected a statewide measure on riverboat gambling Tuesday, while Kelso voters approved a tax hike.

Voter turnout was about 38 percent, with 8,117 voters going to the polls in Scott County.

This election marked the use of a new voting system involving an optic scan ballot counter. "I am pretty happy with it so far," County Clerk Bob Kielhofner said. "I think it went pretty quick."

Scott County voters rejected riverboat gambling, 4,558 against to 3,519 for.

In the Kelso School District, voters approved a measure raising the levy from $1.25 to $2.75. The vote was 416 for to 175 against.

Incumbent Norman Heuring won re-election to the Kelso school board, with 413 votes. Also elected was Linda Halter Yarbro, with 274 votes. Incumbent Robert Mothershead had 243; Joie Henley, 192.

Chuck Miller and Ann Glueck were elected to the Kelso Board of Trustees.

In Chaffee, all four aldermen were re-elected. In Ward 1, incumbent Jerry Wolsey had 63 votes; John Nordin, 28. In Ward 3, incumbent Ron Eskew had 93; Deloris Newman, 5. In Ward 4, incumbent Brad Bader had 97; Jack Nordin, 40. Ward 2 Alderman Wayne Crippen was unopposed.

In the Chaffee and Kelly school districts, incumbents ran unopposed. Re-elected were Larry Meyr and Dale Tierney in Chaffee and Scott Sander and Jim Largent in Kelly.

In the Scott County Central school board race, voters elected Tim McIntyre and Kenny Rodgers with 233 and 158 votes, respectively. Leah Johnson Mize had 157; Steve Minner, 125; and Silvia Bell, 70.

In Oran, Louis Hirschowitz was re-elected mayor with 208 votes. Bob Dennis had 170; Donald Harris, 139.

City Collector Jean Neal won re-election with 289 votes to 226 for Sherry Seyer.

In Ward 1, incumbent Ronnie Diebold defeated E.J. Owens, 50 to 23. In Ward 2, incumbent Thomas Seyer defeated Jim Tyler, 102 to 95. In Ward 3, incumbent Tom Urhahn defeated Ray Cook, 85 to 52. In Ward 4, James Eftink defeated Debbie Madigan, 64 to 42.

In the Oran school board race, incumbent Tom Urhahn and Rosalia Friga were elected with 547 and 329 votes, respectively. Brenda Cook had 311; Robert Owen, 165.

In Benton, Beverly Riley was elected city collector with 97 votes. Sheila Evans had 71; Beverly Felter, 21.

In Ward 1, Mary Ann Wilhelm defeated Van Harris, 50 to 46. In Ward 2, Rick Klipfel was unopposed.

In Commerce, Riley Mayberry, Marie Mayberry and Alan Wright were elected to the town board. Riley Mayberry had 34 votes; Wright, 27; Marie Mayberry, 23; Roy Jones, 18; Roger Edward Morgan, 16; and Louie T. Cox, 12.