Bessette retirement party is Friday

The county has set a function for Friday to celebrate 22 years of public service as a county commissioner and to wish Commissioner Kathy Bessette well as she moves into retirement next year.

Bessette was appointed in December 1990 to finish out the term of Commissioner Dan Morris, who died while in office, and has won every election since.

Bessette decided to retire this year rather than run for re-election, saying, "It's time for new blood, new ideas. "

The celebration will run from 2 to 4 p. m. in the Timmons Meeting Room on the bottom floor of the Hill County Courthouse.