Miller County to maintain vets office

Listening to feedback regarding the Veterans Services office convinced the Miller County budget committee to help maintain the services.

The Miller County budget committee praised the work of Veterans Service Office Ray Harmon and secretary Brenda Jones for helping veterans.

Bowie County contributed to the Miller County Veterans Office, but decided to offer additional services in New Boston and reduced the pay by about $9,000.

The committee wants to make up the lost wages after Bowie County reorganized the services.

“He takes care of our veterans,” District 1 Justice of the Peace John Wilson said.

Harmon makes in-home visits to veterans and goes to the funerals of area veterans, Wilson said.

Harmon told the budget committee he didn’t want a pay increase, but the committee wants the office to have the proposed 5 percent pay increase.

“We’ve heard about your work. We can’t lose you,” said District 4 Justice of the Peace Carl Standridge, chairman of the budget committee.

Harmon said Miller County has 4,094 veterans.

From Dec. 1 through Dec. 7, the office has received 125 calls.

The services average about 1,000 calls a month.

The service includes helping veterans with service disability, education benefits, pensions, death and burial benefits, nursing home assistance and financial assistance.