Creative Editing
Chapter 7
Exercise 8
8. Edit this story for the Centerville daily newspaper:
appointment
Mayor Dwight Smyth held a press conference yesterday afternoon at 3:30 P.M. at the City-county building in downtown Centerville. At the press conference the mayor made known to the assembled press, various city officials and interested public the identity of the newlyappointed Director of the Office of Economic Development, whom he selected from a list of three possibilities submitted to him by a search committee. The person selected by the mayor is Mrs. Mary Berryman, who has served in a similar capacity in the city of Riverside.
During the press conference the mayor said "Mrs. Berry, is a first rate organizer and planner and will do a first rate job for Centerville citizens in her new post. Her appointment culmenates a six month nationwide search and the search committee couldn't be happier with it's choice the major said. "We are indeed fortunete to have a person of Mrs. Berrys statute join our city staff Mayor Smyth told onlookers.
Mrs. Berryman is married to Reverend John Berryman, who is a minister of a Baptist church in Riverside. Reverend John Berryman said that his plans are uncertain now but that he hoped to relocate to Centerville now that his wife has gotten this new job. Reverend John Berryman has been pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Riverside for the past 5 years. Before that time he was pastor of a church in Lawrence. He graduate from Southwest Baptist Semenary in Ft. Worth, Tex. in 1975.
Mrs. Berryman was one of 15 applicants for the job in a nation wide search. She was one of three finalists whom was recommended by a search committee appointed by the City Council last July 1991. The search committee screened applicants, conducted interviews and forwarded 3 names to Mayor Smyth, who made the final selection.
As economic development director, Mrs. Mary Berryman will over see a staff composing two assistant directors and three clerical workers. The office is charged with bringing new businesses and industry to Centerville to help increase job opportunities and to broaden the cities' tax base. Mary, a youngish looking grandmother, wore a black dress and long gold earrings for today's ceremony. She used crutches during her introduction because she is recovering from a broken leg which she received last month.
She will move to Centerville from Riverside where she held the position of assistant economic development director for the past 2 years. She has over ten years of experience in municiple financial planning and economic development. She earned a masters degree in public administration in 1980. Mrs. John Berryman replaces Sam Spade in her new post. Spade left the office 6months ago after ten years on the job. He now has a similiar position in Podunk.
"Frankly, the office is in a financial mess and has been for the past ten years or so" Mayor Smyth said this morning during the announcement ceremony. "The city has spent a bundle on auditers but we still are unable to account for all the money that went through that office during Sam's tgenure, the mayor said. "Mary will be a careful and honest administrater" the mayor said.
Due to financial accounting problems in Centerville and several other cities in the state in recent years, legislation has been introduced in the state legislature which will require anual audits of all city funds in cities throughout the state.
Mrs. Berryman, an articulate black woman, answered questions from newsmen after she was introduced at the press conference. She inferred that she has all ready began efforts to attract a major manufacturer to Centerville. She said that farther meetings with the firm, that she declined to name, were scheduled for later this month. "I know that my predecessor was involved in some questionable financial dealings with city funds, but let me assure the citizens of Centerville that every penny will be accounted for while I'm in charge" Mrs. Berryman told newsmen. Berry said that as one of her first changes in the office, she planned to institute new computer software to facilitate bookeeping in the office.
Mrs. Berryman is a member of the National City Planners Association, the Women's Christian Temperence Union, and the National Organization of Women. City workers were disappointed that they did not get a free lunch yesterday. Original plans called for Mrs. Berryman to meet with city workers at a noon picnic in the park next to the CityCounty Bldg. but colder temperatures forced cancellation of the picnic. It will be rescheduled.
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