Emergency official steps down

Scott Sherman began serving Columbia County in 1988 as a volunteer on the rescue team.

After years as dive team captain, he was hired full-time in 1991 as an Emergency Services operations officer.

From 1991 to July 11, 2002, he would go on to be serve as both assistant director and acting director of the department, write grants that saved the community money and teach thousands of kids how to swim.

Now, Sherman will lends his services to the Hazard Mitigation planning division of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency in Statesboro. He leaves as the Assistant Director to Pam Tucker.

"I've probably lived here longer than I have anywhere else," the native Mississippian said. "But the more I thought about it the more I realized it was a great career move for me."

With his new job, Sherman will be able to help citizens from all over the state prepare for disaster.

He said a good portion of his new duties will require him to help counties create their own disaster response plan while making it compatible with that of the state.

"It's leading edge work in the field and I am quite proud to be accepted," he said.

A day before he cleaned out his office, Sherman talked about what he feels he contributed to the county.

Though he worked on several special projects, such as reorganizing the employees for excellence committee, he said his grant writing provided the department much needed training while giving back to the citizens of Columbia County.

"Anytime you can bring federal dollars back to the local community, you can give citizens some of their money back," he said.

To make sure he doesn't stay away from the area for long period of time, Sherman said he will keep a home in Columbia County and visit as often as possible.

"I'll definitely miss this county," Sherman said. "But I look forward to this new job."