Meriden police officer got into the boat with him. They found the woman and pulled her aboard. Driving back to safety was difficult because of the fast current, Dunnaway said.

"It was like somebody up there was helping me," he said, as he raised his eyes upward.

Dunnaway has since learned how to drive the boat.

"I'm pretty good at it now," he said with a chuckle.

New sheriff coming

Dunnaway, a Republican, decided not to wait until after the fall election to retire. He wanted to give Undersheriff Jeff Herrig a chance to run the department and get his name known. Herrig, who already has filed as a Republican for sheriff, handles the budgeting and most of the administrative duties, Dunnaway said. At least in the interim, Herrig will take over adepartment that has 44 employees and a 2008 budget of just more than $2 million.

On April 1, the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee will meet to nominate Dunnaway's replacement. That person's name will be submitted to the governor, who will make the official appointment. The meeting is at 7 p.m. in the county commission room of the courthouse, 300 W. Jefferson St. in Oskaloosa.

Dunnaway was the perfect person to be sheriff, Republican Party chairman Travis Oliver said.

"He had the right temperament. He had the right skills," said Oliver, a former county commissioner. "He acts like a country sheriff, but don't let that fool you. He is very, very smart."

Dunnaway was born in Eldon, Mo., but grew up in Perry and still lives there with his wife, Norma.

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