**Barry County is sailing along, with energy, progressive ideas and plenty of smart people who put the wind in the sails of our Ship of State we call Barry County.

For the most part, this county is run by some capable people, doing outstanding jobs. That’s nice, but think about it for a minute. Did you ever notice how many of them are women?

Here’s a list of names that quickly come to mind, some organizations and departments that have a woman at the helm: Julie Nakfoor-Pratt, Barry County Prosecutor; Amy McDowell, Barry County Circuit Court Judge; Phyllis Fuller, Barry Central Dispatch 911; Lani Forbes, Barry County United Way; Tammy Pennington, Barry County Commission on Aging; Bonnie Gettys, Barry Community Foundation; Ines Straube, Barry County Unified Court; Pam Palmer, Barry County Clerk; Sarah Nelson, Barry Conservation District; Barbara Hurless, Barry County Register of Deeds; Sue VandeCar, Barry County Treasurer; Vicky Alspaugh, Friend of the Court; Dawn Karfonta, Adult Drug Court; Rachel Ward, Headstart; Colette Scrimger, Barry Eaton District Health Department, Hastings office;  Jan McLean, Mental Health and Substance Abuse; Shasta Lenz, Youth Services Bureau; Barbara Earl, Johnstown Township; Jamie Knight, Irving Township; Cheryl Hartwell, Castleton Township; Laura Ortiz, Hastings Public Library; Heather Wing, Barry County Farm Bureau, and Patty Woods, Hastings Downtown Development Authority.

I know I’ve missed a lot, but you get my drift. Many, many more women hold positions of influence; on the Barry County Commission, Vivian Conner; Barry County Administration, Luella Dennison; Hastings City Attorney, Stephanie Fekkes; Hastings Councilwomen Brenda McNabb-Stange and Therese Maupin-Moore, just to name a few.

At the township and village level, women completely dominate the positions of clerk and treasurer.

Some (okay, mostly women) decry the “good ol’ boy” network, but it’s not so much in Barry County. Women are sharing the power because they are getting the job done.

Look at the list again.  It’s a good start.

Jean Gallup