When members of the Carter County Commission meet next week, they will tackle several items of business, including three honorary bridge namings and complying with the state’s Three Star Program.

Typically, the county’s governing body meets on the third Monday of each month, but this month the meeting was shifted to the third Tuesday due to the President’s Day holiday on Monday. The Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20 in the courtroom on the second floor of the Carter County Courthouse. Prior to the meeting, Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey will present the Hometown Heroes program at 5 p.m. in the courtroom.

On the agenda for Tuesday are three resolutions to honor the memory of local residents by naming bridges for them.

One resolution seeks to name the bridge spanning the Elk River on Poga Road between Ted Potter Road and Atlie Brown Road in the Poga community as the “Owen Ray Church Memorial Bridge.” Church served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1963. After returning home, Church became a master carpenter. He was a long-time resident of the Poga Community and was a well-respected citizen.

A second resolution seeks to name the bridge spanning Laurel Fork Creek on U.S. Highway 19E/State Route 321 in the Hampton Community as the “Sergeant Major James Caroll Gilbert Memorial Bridge.” Gilbert joined the U.S. Army in 1947 and was a 22-year veteran before beginning his tour of duty in Vietnam. Gilbert was killed in action on March 12, 1969, under hostile conditions while evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield via helicopter in Vietnam. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross for his extreme gallantry and extraordinary heroism while in combat.

The third resolution seeks to name the bridge spanning Gap Creek at the intersection of Gap Creek Road and Marion Branch Road as the “Gary D. Murray Memorial Bridge.”

After graduating Happy Valley High School, Murray enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1964, and served his country with distinction. He served as a medical NCO and attained the rank of Specialist Fourth Class.

Murray was killed in action on May 24, 1967, in the Vietnam War during a battle with the enemy forces in Pleiku Province, South Vietnam. Murray made the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life defending our country and the freedom we all enjoy today.

Members of the Commission will also consider a procedural resolution to confirm the county’s compliance with the State of Tennessee’s Three Star Program, which qualifies the county for certain grant opportunities.

In other business, the Commission will appoint a new constable to serve the county’s 4th District following the resignation of Constable Tim Lyons last month. The group will also hear a report from County Attorney Josh Hardin on the status of the relationship between Carter County and Carter County Tomorrow, which was at one time the county’s economic and community development agency.