Smith announces retirement, honored by commissioners

By Susan Taft
staft@campcountynow.com

Doana Smith was honored by the Camp County Commissioners’ Court Monday morning. Mrs. Smith, chief deputy clerk in the county clerk’s office, is retiring at the end of April. She tearfully accepted a plaque recognizing her 26 years of service to the county.
County Judge Thomas Cravey made the presentation, saying the strength of the county’s offices is from the employees.
“You don’t have to research things when you go in the county clerk’s office, you just have to ask Doana,” Judge Cravey said. “We thank her for her years of professionalism and dedication.”
Mrs. Smith said she has enjoyed working for the county.
“I’ve talked about retiring for years,” she said, “and I just decided I needed to stay home a while.”
She had nothing but praise for her boss, County Clerk Elaine Young.
“I love Laney to death,” Mrs. Smith said. “She is a great boss.”
In other business on April 8, the commissioners unanimously approved closing the courthouse and annex offices on the afternoon of April 17 for courthouse security training.  The training will be provided by Charles Sebastian, an employee of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas.
“This is something Sheriff Alan McCandless and I have been talking about for two or three months,” Judge Cravey said. “The purpose of this will be to provide training for the people who work in the county offices. We have asked Mr. Sebastian to customize the training to the situation at our courthouse.”
The Camp County Sheriff’s Office will get a new voice recorder through a state grant.
Constable John Cortelyou, who applied for the grant, said the recording system at the sheriff’s office is antiquated.
“This is a reimbursement grant for $15,000,” he said. “The most it will cost the county is $641.38.”