July 11 was reorganization day at the Montgomery County Board meeting.

Going into the meeting, the board had two vacant seats and was in need of a Chairman after the passing of former chairman Roy Hertel. Evan Young, who was the Vice Chairman, had been serving as the interim chair going into the meeting. The board unanimously approved the removal of his interim title and made him the official County Board Chairman. Young, who didn't have much to say after the vote, said the experience was humbling.

Along with Young's appointment, the board also approved Megan Beeler as Vice Chairman. The two vacant seats on the board were filled by Mark Hughes of Hillsboro and Sandra Johnson of Nokomis. Hughes fills the seat in County Board District Six, while Johnson fills the seat in District Two.

The board members weren't the only ones making moves, as State's Attorney Chris Matoush announced his resignation after being selected as an associate judge with the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Matoush said that he has enjoyed working with each of the county board members as well as people within the sheriff's department since 1999, when he started working for the State's Attorney's office. He will officially join the judicial district on August 1.

Replacing Matoush as the State's Attorney will be Waggoner native Bryant Hitchings. Hitchings was appointed by the Montgomery County Democrat Central Committee, and was approved unanimously by the board. He has previously served as the Coles County State's Attorney, in addition to working in a private practice in Mattoon.

The next Montgomery County Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 8, at 8:30 a.m. on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro.