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The Sanders County Fair Commission selected a new fair manager at a special board meeting at the pavilion last Monday.

"They all had some good qualities and strengths and weaknesses, and after interviewing all five and reviewing everything we came up with our best applicant, Kristy Sheehan," said Randy Woods, the board chairman. Hiring a new manager was the only item on the agenda. Board member Brian Crain made the motion to hire Sheehan for the position. It was quickly seconded by board member Jim Newman and approved by Crain, Newman and Woods, and the meeting was over in less than a minute and a half.

Rich Wallace, the director for the Sanders County Human Resources Department in Thompson Falls, and Sanders County Commissioner Johnny Holland also attended the meeting. None of the five applicants - Sheehan, Jolynn Hanson, and Shelley Bertrand, all of Plains, and Holly Sanders and David Squire of Thompson Falls - were present. The Sanders County Commissioners will vote to confirm the board's decision sometime this week.

"You need someone who's involved in the community and who's lived in the community and who's liked in the community to do the job," said Sheehan, who grew up in St. Regis and moved to Plains in 2001. Sheehan and her husband, Jason, have a horse breeding business, Sheehan Quarter Horses, which they began in 2008.

Sheehan was surprised when she was notified on Tuesday that she was selected, but said she was confident that she has the experience to do the job. Sheehan presently works as a teller and with new accounts at First Security Bank, a position she's held for five years. She'll begin her new job as fair manager on Jan. 2.

Members of the fair board met with each of the candidates for interviews the previous Wednesday. To ensure consistency, Wallace asked the questions to the candidates. He had also coordinated the scheduling and administrative processes for the candidates. In addition, Wallace was responsible for making sure that any followup question was appropriate and not discriminatory. Holland was also on hand during the interviews, which took five hours total. Wallace said that each interview lasted up to 45 minutes. He said that each candidate was asked the same questions, although some of the followup questions to clarify responses varied.

The manager position is a full-time job. However, Wallace said the position comes with a "unique arrangement because the fully required hours are more in late spring through the fair period." Wallace said they will also be looking to fill the positions of a part-time seasonal administrative assistant and a maintenance worker. He said that some times of the year will require 40-plus hours a week.

Sheehan said she's looking forward to the job, but is "kind of excited and nervous" about it. One thing she'd like to see is bringing in more events during the summer months and using more of the grounds throughout the year.