The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI -- Gov. Jay Nixon has appointed Brett B. Bozarth, of LaGrange, as the new public administrator for Lewis County. The position became vacant after the resignation of William Murphy.

Bozarth, a Democrat, is an attorney with a private practice in Canton. He represents clients in the areas of estate administration, guardianship and conservatorship matters, estate planning and other areas of civil law, as well as in criminal law. Bozarth received his law degree from Washington University School of Law, in St. Louis, and his bachelor’s degree from Quincy University. In his law practice, he provided assistance to the former public administrator.

“Public administrators are entrusted with great responsibility as guardians for those who cannot care for their own resources, because of death, disability or age,” Gov. Nixon said. “Brett Bozarth has not only practiced locally in this area of the law, he has provided able assistance to Mr. Murphy, before his leaving the public administrator’s office. I am pleased to appoint him to this position, and know he will do well.”