HOBBS, N.M. -- Former Wilkes-Barre City Manager J.J. Murphy has been hired to that same position in a town 2,000 miles southwest of Luzerne County.

NewsWest9.com, a television and website covering West Texas and Eastern New Mexico first reported the news.

According to a small story on its website, Murphy was unanimously hired last Thursday and will be replacing Eric Honeyfield who retired in June.

He's expected to earn $140,000 a year salary, the site reported.