Mathis begins term as new mayor of Burns, 2 new members join commission tonight

A new administration begins tonight in Burns when Landon Mathis becomes the town’s new mayor. Mathis will be sworn in along with returning commissioners Steven Hayes and Chris Holland, newcomer Bill Allen and Ed “Shot” Grove, the former mayor and police chief, who all won two-year terms in the Nov. 6 election. Mathis won the race for mayor over incumbent Jeff Bishop and Commissioner Lewis Orcutt. One of the first items of business for the new administration will be the appointment of a chief of police following Tase Sturgill’s resignation last week after it was revealed he allegedly sent explicit text messages and pictures to a female employee of an area store. Mathis has said he plans to nominate Paul McCallister, a former Dickson Police Department officer and master sergeant in the Tennessee Army National Guard who recently returned from deployment to Jordan. Sgt. Vance Bowker has served as interim chief since Sturgill’s resignation. Mathis also is expected to appoint a vice mayor, fire chief, town recorder and town attorney. The Burns Board of Commissioners meets at 7:00 tonight in Burns Town Hall.