Fentress County Commissioners hired Daryl Widebeck to serve as the county’s new Veterans Service Officer Monday night.
Veterans Service Officer Jeff Tinch will retire May 1. Tinch said the first year will be challenging for Widebeck and the new officer will need the county’s support to succeed.
“It’s not something that you go out and get a qualification, you walk into this job,” Tinch said. “It’s basically you have to hit the ground running and we went out and did the hiring process, did our interview process. And Mr. Widebeck did very well on the interview process and I’m sure he’ll do a great job for the county.”
Widebeck said he is a newcomer to the county as he has lived there for just over a year. Widebeck said he absolutely plans on staying with the county for a while.
“My sons are moving down in a couple months and I just want to continue service to the vets of Fentress County and I thank you in advance,” Widebeck said.
Tinch said Widebeck will start working on April 1 and Tinch will train him so the new employee is ready to take over the position at the start of May. Tinch said he will see Widebeck through the TRIP training program, a quarterly training, and the state’s additional schooling required for the position.
“I’ve been here ten years,” Tinch said. “Some of you were here when I started. I’ll be walking away and the criteria is that someone has to hopefully be in place.”
In other business, the commission passed a proclamation honoring York Institute Student Jaden Evans for her success on the school’s wrestling team as she is 2025’s 120-pound state champion with one hundred wins throughout her wrestling career, among other accolades.
