County JPs interview four candidates for GC coroner's vacancy

With about 1,500 deaths reported to it annually, the county coroner's office is a busy place.
"We're already at 120 calls since Jan. 1," Acting Coroner Jayson Neighbors told the Garland County Quorum Court Monday. "We've been extremely busy. Our cooler has been full the last week, where we couldn't put one more person in it."

By: David Showers
The Sentinel-Record

With about 1,500 deaths reported to it annually, the county coroner's office is a busy place.

"We're already at 120 calls since Jan. 1," Acting Coroner Jayson Neighbors told the Garland County Quorum Court Monday. "We've been extremely busy. Our cooler has been full the last week, where we couldn't put one more person in it."

Neighbors said the job's administrative duties have added 15-to-20 hours a week to his workload since he took over for Stuart Smedley, who retired at the end of last year with three years left on the term he was elected to in 2022. Neighbors said he worked 40 hours a week during his eight years as Smedley's chief deputy.

He also works full-time for the Hot Springs Village Fire Department, a position he said he'd retire from if the quorum court appointed him to serve the remainder of Smedley's term. He's one of four applicants, and the only candidate who is a certified medicolegal death investigator.

The quorum court will appoint Smedley's successor at a special-called meeting Jan. 29. The appointee will be ineligible to run for election in 2026.

"I've been working from 100 to 120 hours a week the past eight years holding two full-time jobs," Neighbors told the quorum court. "This would almost be like I'm semiretired. My family wants me to go down to one job."

He was uncertain when asked if he would stay on as a deputy if he didn't get the appointment. The quorum court approved an $81,238 salary for the coroner's position last year. Compensation is closer to $85,000 after the 6% cost-of-living adjustment JPs approved for all county employees in 2024.

"I promised my wife I would go down to one job," Neighbors said. "I don't know monetarily if I could stay as chief deputy if I quit my other job. I wouldn't be making near as much money as I could."

Jared Wilson said he would continue working as a senior orthopedic physician assistant if appointed. His flexible schedule allows him to dedicate 40 or more hours a week to the coroner's position, according to the cover letter he submitted with his resume. He also included letters of recommendation from Dr. Doug Ross, president of CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, and state Rep. Les Warren, R-District 84.

"I don't plan on leaving the job," Wilson told the quorum court Monday. "I plan on having a great team around me and being available at all times and be in the field as much as I can. I'd be willing to be on call on the weekends and add that time to serve this office."

Dr. Fred Lyles said if he were appointed he'd consider resigning from his job as a hospitalist for a local family medicine practice. Rick Albaugh is a retired paramedic and deputy coroner, working for Smedley and Neighbors until his retirement in 2015.

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