SPENCER, IN – The Owen County Democratic Party has announced that long time Washington Township Board member Lois West, who had served on the board through 2010, had recently been selected by a party caucus to be reappointed to that board. The position became vacant when Board Member Lloyd (Ed) Coleman passed away in November. By law, the party of an outgoing officeholder is charged with finding and appointing a replacement who will complete the remainder of the term through December 31, 2014.

Lois is a 1940 graduate of Spencer High School. She had previously served on the Washington Township Advisory Board for over 30 years. She currently serves on the Owen Valley Fire Territory Board and the Owen Valley Volunteer Firefighters’ Board of Directors. She had worked at Macy’s (formerly LS Ayres & Co.) for 12 years, and with Indiana University for 16 years. She and her husband Ballard reside in Spencer. They have a son, Larry, who is a 1972 Owen Valley High School graduate, and two grandsons.

Chairman Anton Karl Neff noted, “Township-level government is an important part of our local community. Recent talk of eliminating township government is alarming. In Owen County, it would be difficult to provide the same access to services, such as township assistance for folks in need, cemetery maintenance, and fire protection, at the same cost of all 13 township budgets combined. We are glad to have Lois back on our team to serve the public.” “We are also very appreciative of the years of service Ed Coleman had given to Washington Township and the community—he will be missed.”