Friday, June 23, 2023

Secretaries' Career Paths Come 'Full Circle'

In 1979, two young women met in their jobs at Shelby National Bank, in the red-brick colonial building on Public Square. Christie Nigh was a teller and Susan Wettrick, a secretary across the vast lobby.

“We were friends instantly,” Nigh said. “Now it’s come full circle.”

Next Friday, Nigh will retire as Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent at Shelbyville Central Schools, and in September Wettrick will step down as Secretary to the Superintendent, positions that had them working together in the large front office of the Administration building. There have been plenty of memories made in the intervening 40-plus years.

Nigh’s teller position took her to the Thomas Supermarket branch, then to a branch on Progress Road. Wettrick worked as a secretary at St. Joseph Catholic School. And then both took care of their families.

“We left and went home to stay with our kids,” Wettrick said. She stayed home 16 years and Nigh for 13.

Upon re-entering the workforce, they found jobs in education.

Coulston Elementary School principal Jim Conner hired Nigh as an Instructional Assistant, and she eventually moved over to Hendricks Elementary as an IA in Mary Harper’s classroom. Nigh started her final position working for Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Miltz, where she was reunited with Harper, who had become superintendent.

“I loved every place I worked and every person that I worked with,” Nigh said, adding, “I believe you can’t get a better education than (at SCS).”

Wettrick started back in the Shelbyville High School cafeteria, where she remained four-and-a-half years until then-principal David Adams asked if she would join the front office staff.

“I credit so much to (Adams) because, how do you see somebody with a hairnet and an apron and think, ‘That could be my secretary’?” Wettrick said.

While she appreciated the offer, Wettrick worried about her 20 years’ absence from the office setting. “When I left St. Joe, we didn’t even have a computer. We had a mimeograph machine that I used to run a weekly newsletter.”

But Adams said he wasn’t worried, that Wettrick's people skills and relationships with peers and students were sufficient. “He said, ‘Everything else is trainable.’” She later followed Adams to the administration office after he became superintendent and remained through transitions to Harper and Dr. Matt Vance.

Following the past several years together again, Nigh and Wettrick are looking forward to spending time with their families, which now include several grandchildren.

“It’s been a great run. That’s the best partner ever over there,” Nigh said, pointing to Wettrick, who then said the same about Nigh.

They plan to keep in touch even when they aren’t side-by-side at a desk.

“We may even do some traveling together,” Wettrick said.

They’re also looking forward to other benefits of retirement.

“I’m excited about not setting that alarm anymore,” Nigh said.

ROAD BLOCK

NOTEBOOK

• Shelby County Deputy Coroner Joy Adams was awarded the Jeff Stout Service of Excellence Award yesterday afternoon in Indianapolis. The award was given by the Indiana State Coroner’s Association for her dedication and hard work within the death investigation field. Over the past four and a half years with the Shelby County Coroner’s Office, Adams has worked extended unpaid hours visiting with families, attending trainings throughout the United States and working with veterans and their families, Coroner Bradley Rund said, adding "It is an honor to have her working within our community."
• Mark Mason of Shelbyville has been named director of charity gaming for the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC). Mason had been assistant director of charity gaming for nearly six years. His promotion follows the retirement of Diane Freeman after her 40 years of employment in state government positions. Prior to his position with the IGC, Mason spent more than a decade managing security and regulatory affairs for Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg and its parent company, Penn National Gaming. It was a position he accepted after retiring from a law enforcement career with the Indiana State Police that spanned more than 25 years, taking him from the rank of Trooper to Major.
• STATE NEWS: A new state law establishes new caps on the percentage of graduation waivers that will be counted towards a school’s state and local graduation rate beginning with the 2024 graduation cohort. Lawmakers set a 9% cap on the number of students who can graduate from a school with a waiver during the 2023-2024 school year. After that, the cap drops to 6% in the following academic year, and down to 3% for each school year after June 30, 2025. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

This Day in Shelby County History

2018: The Shelbyville Plan Commission approved rezoning the vacant Marsh Supermarket site to allow for Shelbyville Central Schools to create a preschool and administration offices.

2013: Dr. Paul Inlow donated his replica 1929 Model A Ford to the Cancer Association of Shelby County. The Association's executive director, Donna Harrell, said Inlow had been one of the organization's biggest supporters.

2008: Former KCL employees were invited to a reunion, organized by Shannon Moss, a 36-year employee. The factory had once employed 400.

2003: New officers were elected for SCUFFY. They included Doug Brown, David Toll, Judy Runnebohm, Denny Ramsey, Dwane Rice, Rhonda Schwegman, Chris Ross, Rick Walton, Terry Smith, Kathy Callahan, Dave Fisher, Nisa Hensley and Steve Gardner.

1998: The pool motor, estimated to be 20 years old, at Porter Pool stopped working. The motor that had previously served the pool was reinstalled and worked fine, buying time for repairs.

1993: During dedication of the Civic Center, Mayor Bob Williams gave former mayor and election opponent Dan Theobald credit for starting the project. Theobald, who had moved to Plainfield, said, "People don't realize that Bob and I are good friends. Even if we did run against each other, we can still be friends, even in politics. It's not like were in the state Senate."

1988: A search for a dog that had bit a girl had a happy ending. The dog was found and was not rabid. Kentucky Fried Chicken had given free food to those searching for the dog, Kmart donated a net to catch the animal, and Dr. Eppler donated his services.

1983: Shelbyville Central Schools board president Janet Coers and Dale Herthel were reappointed to four-year terms. William Hart, of Bausback Corp., was also appointed to the school board.

1978: The Shelbyville News' "Little Tell" reported J.R. Showers III, of Waldron, sustained a painful injury. He was asleep in bed at home when his dog apparently came up alongside him and barked. The bark so startled Showers that he raised up suddenly, and as a result dislocated his shoulder. "That's the report Showers and his wife are telling their friends, and Little Tell believes it," the paper said.

Jim Carney, state trooper assigned to Shelby County, said he often stopped speeders on I-74 who used the classic excuse they had to go to the bathroom. Carney told the newspaper, "If they had to go before I stopped them, they really have to go by the time I get through with them. And by the time I catch up with them they've passed three exits."

1973: Lloyd Sommers, offset pressman at Tippecanoe Press, retired. he was presented an Accutron calendar watch and transistor radio by Don Wickizer Sr. and Lynn Cox.

1968: Loren "Pat" Murphy, founder of a local funeral home in 1933, died at his home, 2009 S. Riley Highway. Murphy was a World War I veteran. He was survived by his wife, Joy (Badgley).

1963: A newly installed street sign at CR 300 N incorrectly called it "Brandywind Road."

Construction began on the Siebert Oldsmobile building on East U.S. 421.

1958: Sharlene Taylor was named queen during a style show at the General Electric picnic. Members of her court included Mary Louise Brown, Janet Hungerford, Linda Weicks, Julie Larrison and Julia Theobald.

1953: Betty King announced her candidacy for the state vice-presidency of the Indiana Young Democrats organization.

1948: Scott Meiks, retiring president of the Rotary Club, was honored with a program that included a speech from Russ Gross.

1943: A third Shelbyville resident was penalized for failing to observe gasoline rations. The man confessed to using gas given to him for business purposes for a "pleasure trip into the southeastern section of the county." His rations were suspended for 50 days. The other two had been penalized for speeding and making a non-business trip to Kentucky.

1938: With asphalt setting on a new section between Shelbyville and Manilla, State Road 44 was set to open to the public.

1933: In commemoration of the birthday of William E. Porter, who was a World War I veteran and son of Enos Porter, donor of the pool here, the public was allowed to swim free. It was the third summer the pool had been open.

1928: During the month of June, more than 9,000 people had used Kennedy Park, according to a Boys Civic League report, this despite it raining 19 days between late May and late June. The park grounds had been donated by Mr. and and Mrs. Fred Kennedy, which included 10 acres in the Walkerville section of the city.

1923: The local Nazarene church, located at Jackson and Noble streets, launched a "Dollar Day" campaign to complete the building in which they had been worshipping for 18 months.

Downtown churches announced Sunday evening services would be canceled during the summer. Two of the four churches were without a pastor.

OBITUARIES

Glenda J. Hadley, 81, of Manilla, passed away Saturday, June 17, 2023 at TriState Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Born June 22, 1941 in Sumner County, Tennessee, she was the daughter of Frank Smith Hamm and Ora May (Wilson) Hamm. She married Wallace Hadleyon September 2, 1966, and he preceded her on March 8, 2006.

Survivors include a son Kevin P. Hadley (wife Michelle) of Lizton, a daughter Karla R. Kessler (husband Rick) of Manilla; sister Gayle Scott of Portland, Tennessee; four grandchildren, Levi Hadley, Logan Hadley, Tyler Kessler, Skyler Kessler; and one great-grandchild, Riley Kessler. She was preceded in death by her parents, her spouse, two brothers, and one sister.

Mrs. Hadley had lived the biggest part of her life in this area and graduated in 1960 from Franklin Simpson High School in Franklin, Kentucky. She had been employed by several different business's including Western Electric, for 17 years, Western Supermarket, Cossairt Florist's, and Freudenburg. Glenda enjoyed shopping, visiting the beach, eating fried chicken and iced tea, and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, with Rev. David Humphrey officiating.  Friends may call on Tuesday afternoon from noon until the time of the service. Memorial contributions can be made to Manilla Volunteer Fire Dept., in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.