Published: August 13, 2009 06:30 pm      

Ensley named president of Georgia Sheriffs

Murray County Sheriff Howard Ensley was elected president of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association at the group’s annual Summer Training Conference in Greene County. Ensley has been sheriff of Murray County since 1989.

“It’s a real honor,” Ensley said on Thursday. “We hope to keep things going well and do a lot of good things for the children.”

Part of Ensley’s duties will include helping oversee the five campuses of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes — including MountainView boys home in Murray County and Cherokee Estate in Whitfield County — by presiding over board meetings and taking part in fundraisers. The other campuses are the Boys Ranch in Hahira, Pineland and Camp Pioneer in LaGrange and Herrington Homestead in Nunez.

“We have lots of local people helping out by serving on the boards at Cherokee Estate and MountainView,” he said.

At the conference Ensley urged his fellow sheriffs to “put forth an extra effort to support the homes” for disadvantaged youth.

“We care for over 100 children in Georgia from elementary school through college,” he said. “This is very expensive, as we know, but these children are worth it.”

Ensley’s term will last one year.