James Kuchenbecker (Photo courtesy of Marion County)
The Marion County Office of Emergency Management has a new director. James Kuchenbecker recently resigned from the position Nov. 16, and Melissa Penn has been appointed as his successor.
Kuchenbecker had been the OEM director since the beginning of February. In an off-air interview, Marion County Judge Jason Stumph said Kuchenbecker was recently traveling to Little Rock for a leadership seminar when he was involved in a motor vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 65 near Leslie. Kuchenbecker was one of three transported to the hospital. All have since been released.
It was nearly four years earlier when Kuchenbecker was involved in a shooting incident as he was serving as the police chief in Bull Shoals. Judge Stumph tells KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot News after considering the two incidents, Kuchenbecker and his wife decided it was time for him to step back and spend more time with family.
Kuchenbecker’s career in law enforcement has spanned nearly four decades. He began his career in a small town outside of Chicago and later worked his way down to Bull Shoals. Judge Stumph praised Kuchenbecker for his knowledge of emergency management and his “exceptional skill in grant writing.”
Penn was originally named as acting OEM director following Kuckenbecker’s resignation. Judge Stumph says she was permanently appointed to the position on Tuesday.
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