NORWAY, S.C. (AP) — Jim Preacher couldn’t wait nine more days to become mayor of the tiny town of Norway. So he had a friend climb into Town Hall through an unlocked window and let him in so he could change the locks and take over the town’s checkbook.
He’s even pulled over a state trooper who wrote him a speeding ticket.
The 66-year-old mayor half-heartedly apologizes for bringing bad publicity to the town 50 miles south of Columbia.
But he also leaves no doubt he has big plans to try to save Norway, which hasn’t written a budget in years, has lost so much revenue it disbanded its police department and currently uses Preacher to read meters, run its water system and do the rest of the towns business.
