Bradford's interim mayor has held the position before

By Sherry Snow Feature Writer   

This is Greba, she answers the telephone at Bradford City Hall. Not, This is Mayor Edens, as she has been since October 2003 and Mayor Paul Bunn left to serve in Iraq with Arkansas 39th Infantry Brigade. For Edens is not one to stand on formalities or ceremony. She is a take-charge, active lady familiar with the duties she took on, as she was recorder-treasurer for this city for 20 years. I had rather stayed here and done this than try to break in somebody, the 79-year-old Edens said matter-of-factly in an interview at her office. And a busy office it is, with citizens coming and going, as well as Water Department Superintendent Dallas Goad checking in. Lori Miller mans the front desk and phone which Edens admits she doesn't like to do. She is wonderful, Edens said of her assistant. Edens really had no choice as to whether she wanted to be mayor or not since it is mandated by state law that her office is the natural progression in the absence of the elected mayor, she told. And she took it in stride and really didn't think anything about it. Because I had been through many mayors coming and going over 20 years. Edens had run for city recorder initially at the urging of then water department superintendent Dale Goad, she recalled. It wasn't really a planned entry into city government, just one that came about after she had taught at the Bradford Elementary School for 24 years. Edens was elected to the post and the woman who ran for city treasurer did not accept that position so the city council consolidated the two offices and made it a four-year term, Edens said. No one has run against her since, she said. Paul Bunn was the fifth mayor she has seen come and go. Of course, taking over for Bunn was not something she relished, for all think and pray and worry about him in Iraq, as well as the city's police chief, Josh Chambliss and the six others from this town of 800 that are serving their country. They took eight out of here at one time. As far as I know, one was slightly injured but the others are doing as well as they can. She hopes Bunn and the others will be back by March as some say. She will continue her duties as long as necessary, but she is ready for Bunn to make those decisions about city affairs that rightfully belong to an elected mayor. Such as dealing with a planned $852,000 water project with replacement of lines and the building of a holding tank which likely could get underway after the first of the year. But Edens noted, I just live next door (to city hall), and the hours are just half-days five days a week. It has not been any problem. I come and go as I please. Although the mayor really is on call and everyone knows where she is if they need her, she acknowledged. Edens, although not a native here, has been a resident 48 years and sees the many benefits of the town. We've got enough police, it's fairly peaceful around here, and we have a good school system. Edens, too, thinks there are more that live here than what the sign says, 800. We disagree (with that) We think there's more, between 800 and 1,000, judging by the city's water meters, she contends. Edens was born at Magness in Independence County, but her dad was from here. He worked as an agent for the railroad and was transferred to Magness. She graduated from Magness High School then taught at Oil Trough, Magness, and Newark before moving to Bradford. She was an only child, and she never married. Besides being mayor, Edens loves to travel and has been in all states but Delaware as well as Mexico and Canada, and four years ago she went to Alaska. She went on a Caribbean cruise this fall. Another interest has been her doll collection of which there are about 300, but this has smoothed out over the last few years and doesn't occupy her as much, she noted. She is proud of the mural painted on the side of a store building as one comes into town. It honors veterans and lists about 300 from the city. The mural was painted by a local and the space and materials were donated by townspeople as well. Yellow ribbons were also sold, she said. It would be hard to let someone new come in here, Edens admitted. But I don't think I'd be like that woman at Little Rock.. she said, referring to the Pulaski County Clerk.