Administrator's wife dies

Cherokee County Council was expected to consider final reading of its 2008 budget, but that will likely be postponed as council members mourn the death of the wife of Cherokee County Interim Administrator Ben Clary.

Rhea Clary died Saturday after a lengthy illness. She was buried today.

Council chairman Hoke Parris said Saturday council will meet at 5 p.m. for a series of public hearings, but won't consider any other business. Parris said the public hearings weren't postponed because they were advertised in the local media.

The public hearings include an ordinance that authorizes a referendum for a local option sales tax and the operating budgets for the council as well as Peachtree Centre and seven local fire districts.

Parris said Saturday no decision has been made if the 4 p.m. finance committee meeting would be rescheduled. According to the agenda, Clary was scheduled to brief committee members on the accident last week involving a city brush truck and a county sanitation truck, which claimed the life of a county employee.