Noel Marshal’s Office Overcomes Obstacles

The Noel Marshal’s Office started out 2016 with quite a challenge, with their building’s basement having flooded in December and nothing working in the building. The Dec. 26 flood shut down the town for three days.

Phones, fax machine, HVAC — everything at the office was down thanks to the flood. The basement had to be gutted, and everything stored there was lost. The department had a $25,000 loss and is still waiting on $12,500 from FEMA. But today the office is fully functional again.

At the beginning of the year the office had no operational vehicles except a Hummer. Thanks to a $5,000 donation from a community member, they now have a car. That same community member also donated body armor to the deputies.

The department lost one deputy through relocation, but has gained three part-time deputies for the bulk of the year. Also, a K9 officer, Nik, has recently been certified to work with Deputy Marshal Jeremy Walker.

Deputies also took some drugs off the streets through a couple of drug busts this year, Chief Deputy Lorie Howard said.

Marshal Paul Gardner said he hopes to have a fully operational fleet of cars by the end of the year.

“We have a good team, and if all things work out right, we’ll have that operational fleet by the end of the year. We’re looking forward to the next year with confidence,” he said.