WAURIKA — It’s still three months before candidates can officially file for county elections that will be held in July. But one Waurikan has already decided she’d like to make a temporary job something more permanent.
Anticipating the candidate filing period in June, Michelle Gerken Hall recently confirmed she would be a contender for county clerk in the July election.
A lifelong Waurika resident, Hall is getting a running start at the county clerk’s position. When Doris Pilgreen retired on January 1, the Jefferson County commissioners appointed Hall as her replacement. By the time the election is held in July, Hall will have been working in the clerk’s office for almost nine years.
“I had the pleasure of working for Doris for 8-1/2 years,” said Hall. “I was the purchasing agent in Doris’ office for eight years, and then I was her (appointed) first deputy after Anna Gale Wilcoxson retired in October of last year.
“Doris taught me so much in the time we worked together. I know I have big shoes to fill, when it comes to being county clerk, but I had a great teacher. I understand the responsibilities of the job pretty well.
“I also have had the pleasure of working closely with the county commissioners over the years. I’d like to give a special thanks to them for having faith in my capabilities, and for appointing me to such an honorable position.”
Hall is a 1992 graduate of Waurika High School. After graduation, she accumulated 90 hours of college credits, but withdrew from school and entered the work force after having her first child.
Hall started in the county clerk’s office in August 1999. “I knew their was an opening,” she noted. “It was a local job, and I wanted to stay in the community.”
County clerks are record-keepers for their areas and constituents, and Hall stressed that using new technology to streamline and organize Jefferson County’s records is a priority.
Since being appointed county clerk, Hall said, “My staff and I have been trying to make some much-needed updates to the office. We recently added a new public view station at the counter, and it has proven to be beneficial to many lawyers, abstract companies and landmen that come to our office every day.
“We have approximately 40,000 records dating back to 1999 on the view station for the public to view as well as to print out. Public availability is important. We’ll be scanning more records as we have the time to do so, and in the future, when the county can afford it, we’ll have to expand the technology.”
“In addition,” she added, “we also have a plat map system on the view station that the public can use.”
Hall and her husband Bo have four children: Megan Hall, a senior at Waurika High; Sean Hall, a junior at WHS; Amber Hall, a high school freshman; and Hope Henderson, a third-grader at Waurika Elementary.
The official filing period for the county elections is June 2-4, and Hall plans to file as soon as the period begins. Until then, the temporary county clerk said, “My staff and I are working hard to implement updates to our office as we see necessary.”
“My goal,” Hall said, “is to serve the citizens of Jefferson County, and to have a county clerk’s office that all can be proud of.”
Features
Full-time clerk
- Features
-
-
A kicker’s bad luck
Jordan Williamson probably doesn’t know who Melea Barrick or Evan Waid are.
Maybe he should. -
Students raise 1,700 pounds of food
After seeing his students raise nearly a ton of canned food, Waurika Elementary School Principal Cody Simmons was nearly speechless.
-
Remembering a leader
Kind, humorous and intelligent — those were the most common adjectives used to describe James Harley Ivy Jr.
-
Leaving a lasting legacy
Recognition wasn’t something he was looking for. In fact, he had no idea he would the recipient of an award during Waurika’s all-school reunion earlier this month.
-
School is back in session for Waurikans
As Melody Tyler progressed through her lesson about eagles at Waurika Elementary School, her fifth grade class appeared to be listening intently. Even though it was only the second day of instruction for youngens across Waurika, Tyler expected a good school year.
-
Teachers, staff prepare for students’ arrival
The halls at Waurika High School that were once relatively quite for three months are now abuzz with activity.
-
A seed-spittin’ good time
Jubilant and hot would be the proper adjectives to describe the 49th annual Terral Watermelon Jubilee Friday and Saturday.
-
Gallaher settling into role with City of Waurika
The new face at Waurika City Hall isn’t really a new face at all. Waurika City Treasurer Rachel Gallaher is no stranger to Jefferson County — she’s been here forever.
-
Waurika Lake bustling with activity
Refuge from the oppressive Oklahoma heat wasn’t difficult for Waurikans and others from the area to find on Independence Day weekend. The lake baring the town’s name was bustling with swimmers, campers and boaters — all striving to beat the heat and have fun.
-
Juried Art Show returns to Waurika library
Area artists can enter their work in the Waurika Juried Art Show, Sunday through Thursday, Oct. 29, at the historic Rock Island Depot.
- More Features Headlines
-
A kicker’s bad luck
