Submitted photo Former Mingo Magistrate Assistant Renee Moore, flanked by her parents, is shown being administered the oath of office by Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael to begin her duties as a Deputy Magistrate Clerk, after she chose to transfer into the new position.

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Rachel Dove-Baldwin

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSON — Mingo County Chief Magistrate Dallas Toler has announced that effective Friday, Nov. 16th, Renee Moore, who has served as his assistant since Jan. 16 of this year, will now be employed as a Deputy Magistrate Clerk, and will be replaced in her former position by Misty Fields, of Varney.

Magistrate Clerk Terry Sanders had been working with only one deputy clerk over the past few months, as former employee Candace Harper assumed the magistrate assistants position in the office of Dee Sidebottom following the resignation of Willa Mayhew, who is now said to be employed with the Boone County Magistrates office.

Moore expressed interest in changing positions and moving to the clerk’s office, and with her former training and experience as a magistrate assistant, Sanders and Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury felt this would be an easy transition for all involved.

Moore and Fields were both administered their oath of office on Friday in the Circuit Courtroom, with Judge Thornsbury conducting the swearing-in. Fields began training immediately following the ceremony and will receive assistance from Moore in learning the practices and procedures of the court over the next few weeks.

Chief Magistrate Toler stated that he wanted to express his thanks to Moore for the wonderful job she had done as his assistant, and said he feels that she will be an asset to the clerk’s office.

“This is a difficult job to perform,” remarked Toler. “There is a lot to learn. We have busy dockets three days a week, and that’s not counting the days that we do intake or are on call. There’s a tremendous amount of paperwork to keep straight, and I would like to personally say that I feel we have a good group of employees here in magistrate court that know what a hard day’s work is all about.”

“These girls take their responsibilities seriously when it comes to serving the citizens of Mingo County.”

Toler invites everyone to stop by his office to meet Misty, and asked to remind the public that his door is always open to them and to their needs.

“I am, and will always be, grateful to all of those who voted and put their trust in me to do a fair and just job protecting their rights and making sure that everyone receives impartial treatment in a court of law. I’m proud to say that I’m a magistrate in Mingo County, and I promise to do my job to the very best of my ability.”