Sandra Wall has been named to the Smithville Electric System Board of Directors.

She will succeed her father, the late John Robert Nixon as a member of the board. He passed away in April.

During Monday night’s monthly city council meeting, Mayor Jimmy Poss recommended that Wall be appointed to fill the remaining three years of Nixon’s unexpired term. The aldermen gave their approval. Mayor Poss said seven persons expressed an interest in the position but he did not disclose the names.

Mr. Nixon, a founding member of the Smithville Electric System Board of Directors, was reappointed to a new four year term last July.

Nixon had been a member of the SES board since it was established in 1969 and served until his death. He had been the only chairman of the board until he stepped down from that role last year.

Smithville Electric System paid tribute to Nixon by naming the new sub-station on College Street after him. The dedication was held last October.

Original members of the SES board in 1969 along with Nixon were Dr. W.E.Vanatta, John Bill Evins, Bill Maffett, and Clarence Braswell.

Members of the board today in addition to Wall are Walter Burton, Hilton Conger, Tony Hagen, and Mayor Jimmy Poss.

If you have been an active volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member in the State of Tennessee for at least a year, you are eligible to obtain one free license plate thanks to a new state law which went into effect Tuesday, May 15.

As enacted, the new law exempts certain active, volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members from payment of the regular registration fee at the time of renewal for a license plate issued to the volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member. The offer is good for only one motor vehicle per firefighter or rescue squad member upon the certification or sworn statement from the fire chief or local rescue squad captain confirming the person is an active, volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member.

The law also authorizes the county commission to waive the local issuance fee for motor vehicles receiving the exemption from the state registration fee, if the waiver is approved in the same manner as the adoption of the motor vehicle tax.

The price for a standard firefighter or rescue squad plate is $26.50 (state fee) along with $2.50 issuance fee for a total of $29.00.

Since the law has already gone into effect, County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss said his office can issue the plates without charging the state fees but is not yet authorized to waive the local issuance fee for the plates until the county commission takes action.

Firefighters and rescue squad members wishing to take advantage of the free plates are urged to wait until the county commission acts on waiving the local fee before trying to obtain one.