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July 24, 2008

Locust Grove terminates police officer

Melissa McClendon

Concerns over possible litigation with the Locust Grove Police Department had the Locust Grove Board of Trustees on high alert. During a special meeting Tuesday three board members including Mayor Shawn Bates, Vice Mayor Terry Starling and Trustee Jim Flynn went into executive session to discuss their options.

The reason for possible litigation was never discussed during the open meeting and no decision was made during executive session.

Bates said the board also met in executive session to discuss the employment of officer Jerry Ragsdale. The board unanimously voted to terminate Ragsdale for the good of the service effective immediately. Ragsdale, who had been on a three day suspension, will be paid for those three days plus an additional two weeks. Bates said Ragsdale’s suspension followed both verbal and written reprimands in his seven month employment.

A condemnation hearing for the Wanda Bates property located at 412 S. Bryan, Locust Grove, has been rescheduled. The hearing was originally scheduled for July 28, but it had to be postponed since all the parties involved were not served proper notice.

The hearing has been set for Aug. 11, 6:30 p.m., at City Hall during the regular monthly town meeting. All four parties involved in the preceeding must be served a notice at least 10 days prior to the hearing and/or the hearing date and time which will be published in the newspaper in the same time frame.

The board passed a resolution to allow the Locust Grove Fire Department to apply for a Department of Agriculture grant up to $10,000

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