Former FSU-Panama City campus librarian Darby Syrkin is the new director of the Jackson County Library system.  Syrkin, a resident of Calhoun County, has a master’s degree in library science from the University of Texas.

Butch Edwards of Sneads, a former state employee who just ran for office on the town council, losing to Helen Grice, is one of five finalists to be interviewed for the city manager job.  Edwards is the only local finalist.  The others are Roger Gorius of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Mo Cox of Quincy, Connie Butts of Sparks, Nev., and Michael Patterson of Redmond, Ore. Former city manager Ed Kilpatrick, who resigned under fire in March, was paid $40,000 yearly.  The town council last month removed much of the position’s executive duties, reducing the city manager to an administrative job. There were 27 total applicants.

The Town of Sneads (population 1849 in the new census) has 32 employees, 27 of which are full time, and an annual budget of $2.7 Million.