Chester County honors probate judge Terry Boyd Zine, recognizes deputy coroner Jolene Clinton and promotes Andrea Pelkey in EMS

Chester County Council on July 7 presented a proclamation recognizing Judge Terry Boyd Zine for 50 years of service to the county probate court, heard a coroner's presentation honoring Jolene Clinton as the Midlands deputy coroner of the year, and received an administrative announcement that Andrea Pelkey has been named deputy director for Chester County EMS.

Chairman Pete Wilson read a proclamation commemorating Judge Zine's career, noting a start date of July 1, 1975, appointment as deputy probate judge in 1991 and assumption of the probate judge office on Jan. 1, 2019. The proclamation stated Judge Zine has "issued over 1,400 marriage licenses" during her career and has hosted continuing legal education for peers. Judge Zine spoke briefly and called serving Chester County an "honor and a privilege," praised the probate staff and recalled her earlier supervisor E.K. Harden as "one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known." The proclamation was presented and council members applauded.

Coroner Terry Tinker introduced Jolene Clinton after a nomination process within the coroner's office. Tinker described Clinton as inquisitive and noted she will attend Advanced Coroner School in January; he said she has been a deputy coroner for about seven years and called her "a blessing to Chester County EMS" and to county fire departments. Clinton accepted the recognition and thanked the department.

In the administrator's report, staff announced Andrea Pelkey as deputy director for EMS. The county said Pelkey brings more than 25 years of frontline clinical experience and over a decade of EMS education and leadership. The administrator reported Pelkey's work on billing improvements helped the county be about $11,000 ahead of last year in EMS billing as of early July.

Council members and staff posed for photographs with the honorees during the meeting.