IN BRIEF: The search for the new fire chief and county human resources director has been narrowed down to a short list of three candidates each, according to HR Deputy Director Doris Patterson.

At the Board of Commissioner's evening work session on Tuesday, Commissioner Oz Nesbitt asked for an update on the two searches.

Patterson replied, "We have three candidates as finalists that we have presented to the Chairman for his consideration."

Chairman Richard Oden said in response, "I have interviewed. I will be getting my results to the HR department in a couple days."

In other BOC business:

Rockdale County Sheriff's Office Lt. Myra Pearrell presented information on a Byrne/JAG grant of about $31,000 awarded to the Sheriff's Office this year. The grant, which does not require a local match, would be used for mobile digital video cameras on motorcycle units, mobile radios on motorcycle units, and a mobile booster or repeater to allow for better communication in an incident area. About $1500, or 5 percent, of the awarded grant would go to the finance department to defray costs of staff time spent on the grant.

Check back to www.rockdalenews.com later for more.