Nearly 50 people want to become the new Veterans Affairs Office clerks.

The county has received 47 applications for the positions, which became open when Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Officer Sammy Willard fired Kathy Love and Michele Tucker on Sept. 29 for allegedly making unfounded statements against him.

Those statements triggered an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The results of that investigation have been forwarded to the Attorney General's office.

Love and Tucker appealed their firings to the county's Grievance Committee, but the committee failed to issue a recommendation because of a lack of evidence offered by either side.

Although their salaries will be funded from the county's operating budget, Cherokee County Assistant Administrator Holland Belue said the county has no say in selecting the new VA clerks.

Belue said Willard is an appointed official and has the discretion to hire and fire the clerks.