Borough clerk wrapping up nearly 15 years; Deputy clerk assumes new duties

She's got just a few weeks left in the office, but they're going to be busy ones for former Petersburg Borough Clerk Kathy O'Rear as she prepares for retirement.

"We've always got a ton of work to do here," she said.

Debbie Thompson was sworn in as clerk Monday, and O'Rear's last day will be March 31. Until then, she'll be assisting Thompson in the transition.

O'Rear became Petersburg's clerk in August 2000, and was a city clerk in East Jordan, Mich., for 16 years before that.

"We had come up here on vacation a time or two ..." she began, explaining that she and her husband, Larry, had fallen...