SEVERAL CONTESTS DECIDED IN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY

CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County voters decided a number of issues Tuesday.

A total of 2,109 ballots, including absentee ballots, were cast in the elections, about 24 percent of total registered voters.

In county elections, Ann Black, Charles A. "Chuck" Davis and Jane Duenne were elected to four-year Health Center trustee terms with votes of 1,030, 1,010 and 1,030, respectively. Dr. Ron Peterson also ran unopposed for a two-year unexpired Health Center term. He received 1,546 votes.

Jeff Small received 139 votes to Edward D. Bowles' 101 votes for a three-year term on the ambulance district board of directors.

Voters decided two board of education races Tuesday. Brenda Riggens and Dr. Ron Petersen earned 622 and 713 votes, respectively, in their bid for seats on the Charleston school board. Other candidates were David Manker, who received 523 votes, and Jeffrey Stack, who received 267 votes.

East Prairie voters chose Ricky Penrod and Martin Lucas for the school board with 363 and 379 votes, respectively. Also receiving votes were Kevin Wess, 202 votes; Ronnie Wallace, 320 votes; and Dennis Bennett, 111 votes.

Two of four candidates were elected to three year terms on the Charleston City Council. Victors were James Conn and Marshall Currin, who received 470 and 389 votes, respectively. Glennon Johnson received 383 votes and Michael A. Jones received 235 votes in losing efforts.

East Prairie voters approved the annexation of property north of town by a vote of 207 to 199. In a separate measure, voters said no to a proposition to annex property west of town by a vote of 236 to 184.

Candidates for East Prairie aldermen races were all unopposed. Donald Gene Ditto received 109 votes in his bid to become Ward 1 alderman, Harold Lemons received 76 votes in the Ward 2 election, and Bobby McTigue was elected Ward 3 alderman with 98 votes.

Two trustees were elected to two-year terms in the village of Wilson City. Candidates were Lommi Lane, 16 votes; Charles Rush, 18 votes; and Nicole Gant, 18 votes.

In Wyatt, Donald Williams edged out Joey Cross in the mayoral race in a 55-to-52 decision. Robert L. Harris received 43 votes in his bid for Ward 1 alderman, and Robert Dugan Sr. was elected Ward 2 alderman over Ed Barker in a 39-to-14 decision.

In Bertrand, James Baker was named Bertrand Ward 1 alderman with 29 votes, and 83 percent of voters approved a $300,000 bond proposal to improve the town's waterworks system in an 85-to- 17 decision.

In Anniston, Ricky Julius was elected city marshal with 18 votes, LaDonna Reno was elected Ward 2 alderman with seven votes, and Samual Todd Smoot received 17 votes in his unopposed bid to become Ward 1 alderman.