County commissioners are scheduled to select a new East Fork Justice of the Peace at 5 p.m. today in Minden. That will be the last item on commissioners' agenda today. One of the first will be establishing water rates for 2012 and 2013 for the county's water systems. Commissioners meet at 1 p.m. in the historic Douglas County courthouse, 1616 Eighth St. The first part of the meeting times out at about three hours, so there may be a break before the JP decision is heard.
Speaking of the Justice of Peace, East Fork Justice Court will be busy today with James Matlean's preliminary hearing. Matlean is accused of killing Benjamin Oxley with a shotgun while Oxley was asleep in his Wildhorse home. Justice Steve McMorris expects the hearing to last through the day. Matlean is being defended by Ken Stover, who defended one of the men in the Father's Day beating death of Terrence Joe Howell.
This may be our last week of beautiful weather until spring. Today's high is supposed to hit 75 degrees under mostly sunny skies. Starting Sunday the highs plummet into the 50s and lows drop well below freezing.
