The elections for the town of Clio and Marlboro County Council District 5 seat is Tuesday, July 14.
Any necessary runoffs will be held on Tuesday, July 28.  
The general election for the town of Clio will be from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. July 14 at the Clio Community Center (Old Depot Building), 101 Calhoun Street.
Newcomer Ben Petrone filed for mayor and Gabriel David is running as a write-in candidate.
Clio Town Council has four seats. Incumbents Cathy Helsel, Samuel McCollum, Harley Thomas, and newcomer Kenneth Phillips are on the ballot.
Kenneth Stroman was the only person to file for the vacant County Council District 5 seat.

Marlboro County High School seniors will have their graduation ceremony at 8 a.m. Saturday at McAlpine Stadium.
Gates will open at 6:30 a.m.
Each graduate will receive two tickets. All guests will be required to show a ticket and wear a face mask to enter the stadium.
Hand sanitizing stations will be inside the stadium and restrooms will be closed. 
Marlboro County School District Superintendent Dr. Gregory McCord said they are requiring everyone to be prepared to enter and exit in an orderly manner complying with all social distancing rules.

As Dr. Jamane Watson walked through the halls of Marlboro County High School, it was still a surreal feeling for him.
Watson, a 1996 graduate of the school, was named the new principal on June 30.
“It’s an unreal feeling,” he said. “It hasn’t set in yet that I am the principal of Marlboro County High School.” 
And Watson is grateful to be able to directly give back to the community that gave to him.
“Marlboro County High School created the man that I am today with the rich traditions and the educators that I had,” he said.
Watson has nearly 20 years of experience in the field of education in grades kindergarten through 12th grade. Previously, he was an assistant principal at Lumberton Senior High School.

The July 2 edition of the Herald-Advocate was printed early so the staff can have a long Independence Day weekend.  Our office will be closed from Wednesday, July 1 until Tuesday, July 7.  We hope you have a safe and fun July 4th.

Amid constant reminders of the coronavirus pandemic, athletic activity has begun to return to Marlboro County High School.
The Bulldog football team began summer activities this week, with morning conditioning and training on fundamentals.
"This is just very different," said head coach Bobby Collins, who then pauses to remind a group of players to remain six feet apart.
"We are working in small groups of about eight players each.  They have one coach working with that group and he has to keep on a mask.  We aren't using any equipment or balls, anything that they can touch," said Collins.