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COLE COUNTY, MO. -- The Cole County Commission announced Marie Peoples will be the new Director of the Cole County Health Department. 

Peoples had worked for the Department of Health and Senior Services for about four years in the role of Chief of Primary Care and Rural Health.

Cole County Presiding Commissioner Marc Ellinger said they got more than  thirty applications from across the country for the position.  

Peoples will be responsible for planning and directing the public health programs, as well as the coordination of the department's activities to conform with the statewide public health programs.