Last night the basketball court was empty, but the seats were filled at the Valley Grande Middle School gymnasium to hear from guest speakers and 10 candidates running for town council.

Valley Grande’s election for mayor and town council is scheduled for March 25 at the Valley Grande Community Center, 312 County Rd. 240. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Danni Cabaniss of Oakmulgee came to the meeting to listen to the candidates.

Jeff Simmers of Valley Grande was there for the same reasons.

Simmers only knew the mayoral candidate, Herb Story, and didn’t yet know who he’d vote for of the town-council candidates.

Valley Grande resident Kim Smitherman attended the town hall meeting to support her father-in-law Roy Smitherman, a candidate for town council.

As of Thursday night, Kim knew she’d vote for candidates Roy Smitherman and Tom Lee, but that was all.

The candidates, though, weren’t the only ones to step up to the podium on Thursday.

Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman received a round of applause by saying no one in the county would go without law enforcement protection.

State Rep. James Thomas also spoke to the crowd Thursday night.

Thomas came to the meeting to give the town his congratulations.