County settles for $40,000

Pike County settled a lawsuit with former associate magistrate Loretta Rakestraw in court Nov. 17.The consent order and final judgement signed by senior superior court judge Stephen Boswell included $40,000 for Rakestraw’s attorney’s fees. The consent order also declares that Rakestraw shall return to her Associate Magistrate position on a 20-hour a week basis with full time benefits until her current appointment expires Dec. 31, 2012.