News : Hesson, Parr to participate in first Vinton City Council meetings next week

City Clerk Cindy Michael administers the Oath of Office to Nathan Hesson.

Nathan Hesson's family joined him for a photo after his City Council Oath of Office ceremony.

When the Vinton City Council convenes for the first time of 2016 next Thursday, Jan. 14, it will welcome two new members.

First-time candidates Nathan Hesson and Brian Parr won in November and were sworn in last month, and will join the council and Mayor John Watson, who was re-elected in November.

Incumbents Tami Stark, Zach Parmater and Ron Elwick ran unopposed in the November 2015 election. Incumbent Ron Hessenius was re-elected in 2013.

Parr is well-known throughout Vinton and beyond for his artistic abilities and his chain saw creations. Hesson, the former Vinton Unlimited director, is recovering from surgery and looks forward to getting to work at the first city council meeting.