NEWPORT-Moving ahead with efforts to address courthouse overcrowding, members of the Cocke County Legislative Body voted Thursday to hire one fulltime and one part-time bailiff.

Finance Committee Chairman Phil Killion moved to fund the positions for the remainder of the fiscal year, with the matter to be re-examined in planning for next year's budget.

"Can we afford this," asked CLB member Calvin Ball.

"Yes, we have money in the undesignated fund balance," replied CLB Chair Norman Smith.

For more details, please see the weekend edition of the Newport Plain Talk.