Vernon Bryant was sworn in today as a new Halifax County commissioner while James Pierce was named chairman and Rives Manning vice chair.

Bryant thanked several of his friends and family members for attending the ceremony before taking his seat at today’s meeting.

He thanked Congressman G.K. Butterfield for coming as well as Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Superintendent Dennis Sawyer and his longtime friend, Tyrone Williams.

“I thank you all for being here,” Bryant said. “May god continue to bless you.”

Butterfield said he was pleased to be at the meeting. “Thank you for what you do for this county. Unlike us, you must work from a balanced budget. We hope to pull through this together and work toward a balanced budget.”

Pierce, with his wife, Alice, is sworn in.

Pierce thanked fellow board members for allowing him to serve as chairman a second term.

Judge Turner Stephenson swears in Manning.

Manning was appreciative of the audience. “I wish we could have this every morning. We would be more on our toes.”

In other matters today commissioners:

By a 4-2 vote turned down a request from Lori Medlin of the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau to allow the chair of the CVB to sign checks along with the county finance officer.

The checks are currently signed by the finance officer and county manager.

Medlin said the request was part of the CVB’s plan to streamline its banking.

While it was legal to do so, Manning made the motion to turn it down. Marcelle Smith and Rachel Hux voted for Medlin’s request.

Were told by Economic Development Director Cathy Scott the county is talking to two manufacturing firms interested in locating here.