The town lost an exuberant 12-year-old, Emmit Stannard, to brain cancer as well as long-time leader Myra Dorman, but life hummed with a new cycling festival and a gala to mark the fire department's 75th anniversary.

The position was decided several months ago when Bates, a Democrat and deputy sheriff, was endorsed by all four parties. Sitting Judge Timothy Miller, a Democrat, didn’t run for another term.