diff --git a/job.py b/job.py
index 5413450..de9a1f5 100644
--- a/job.py
+++ b/job.py
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ def GetJM_Message():
 # active jobs being processed in the background
 ################################################################################
 def GetNumActiveJobs():
-    ret = db.engine.execute("select count(1)  from job where pa_job_state is distinct from 'Completed'").first()
-    return ret.count
+    ret=Job.query.filter(Job.pa_job_state != 'Completed').with_entities(func.count(Job.id).label('count') ).first()
+    return ret[0]
 
 ################################################################################
 # this function uses sockets to force wake the job mgr / option from Admin menu
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ def joblog(id):
         refresh=False
     else:
         refresh=True
-        log_cnt = db.session.execute( f"select count(id) from joblog where job_id = {id}" ).first()[0]
+        log_cnt = Joblog.query.filter(Joblog.job_id==id).with_entities( func.count(1) ).first()[0]
         newest_logs  = Joblog.query.filter(Joblog.job_id==id).order_by(Joblog.log_date.desc()).limit(NEWEST_LOG_LIMIT).all()
         oldest_logs = Joblog.query.filter(Joblog.job_id==id).order_by(Joblog.log_date).limit(OLDEST_LOG_LIMIT).all()
         logs=sorted( set( oldest_logs + newest_logs ), key=lambda el: el.log_date )
@@ -256,9 +256,8 @@ def stale_job(id):
         WithdrawDependantJobs( job, job.id, "(Stale) Job withdrawn manually by user" )
         FinishJob(job, f"Job (#{job.id}) (Stale) Job withdrawn manually by user", "Withdrawn" )
 
-    # clear out message for this job being stale (and do this via raw sql to
-    # avoid circulr import)
-    db.engine.execute( f"delete from pa_job_manager_fe_message where job_id = {id}" )
+    # clear out persistent message for this job being stale 
+    PA_JobManager_Message.query.filter(PA_JobManager_Message.job_id==id).delete()
 
     db.session.commit()
     WakePAJobManager(job.id)
@@ -282,23 +281,25 @@ def stale_jobs():
 @app.route("/joblog_search", methods=["POST"])
 @login_required
 def joblog_search():
+    from files import Entry
+    from sqlalchemy import text
+
     eid=request.form['eid']
-    ent_cursor=db.engine.execute( f"select name from entry where id = {eid}" )
-    for ent in ent_cursor:
-        jobs_cursor=db.engine.execute( f"select l.log, j.id, j.name, j.state, l.log_date from joblog l, job j where l.job_id = j.id and l.log ilike '%%{ent[0]}%%' order by l.log_date")
+    ent=Entry.query.get(eid)
+    logs=Joblog.query.join(Job).filter(Joblog.log.ilike(text(f"'%%{ent.name}%%'"))).with_entities(Joblog.log, Job.id, Job.name, Job.state, Joblog.log_date).all()
 
     # turn DB output into json and return it to the f/e
     ret='[ '
     first_job=1
     last_job_id = -1
-    for j in jobs_cursor:
+    for l in logs:
         if not first_job:
             ret +=", "
         ret+= '{'
-        ret+= f'"id":"{j.id}", '
-        ret+= f'"name":"{j.name}", '
-        ret+= f'"log_date":"{j.log_date}", '
-        ret+= f'"log": "{j.log}"'
+        ret+= f'"id":"{l.id}", '
+        ret+= f'"name":"{l.name}", '
+        ret+= f'"log_date":"{l.log_date}", '
+        ret+= f'"log": "{l.log}"'
         ret+= '}'
         first_job=0
     ret+= ' ]'