Sherry Jones, left, stands with Nancy Houchens near Christmas decorations inside the Barren County Government Center. The two are set to retire from public service at the end of the year with more than 50 years of combined experience.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
By BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — For more than 20 years, Sherry Jones and Nancy Houchens have witnessed some of the most pivotal moments in Barren County government. Their time on the third floor of the government center is drawing to a close.
The two will leave with more than 50 years of combined experience. Jones started working alongside former Barren County Judge/Executive Woody Gardner in February 1992, which was also the year the county observed its bicentennial. Houchens started nearly seven years later in January 1999 alongside former Judge/Executive Freddie Travis.
“If you want to compare it for three decades, it was slower,” Jones said. “There was not as much on the agenda as there is now. Of course, that comes with growth.”
Times were different throughout most of the 1990s, Jones said. For starters, the Barren County Fiscal Court was headquartered inside of the Barren County Courthouse. Computers came about during the latter years, but the pair recalls maintaining county records with tangible ledgers and number two pencils, just to name a few. Electric typewriters were also a mainstay in the upkeep of the county government’s business.
Jones worked alongside two judges before Houchens joined the staff. Those two included Gardner and David Dickerson. Once Travis was elected, he remained in office for one term before Davie Greer took the seat for the next 12 years. Micheal Hale was elected eight years ago and is soon to leave office.
Over those years, one part of the job remained a joy – the people. The two said there were often pranks and gimmicks around the office. Recalling one story, in particular, the two said one person would be chosen to go to the top floor of the courthouse to a soda machine and send them back down to the staff on the ground level – and not in the most traditional way.
“If someone was closer to the fourth floor, we’d send some money up with them and put them out the window and catch them out the window on the street!” Jones said.
Spanning the files of her mind are several key votes, projects and happenings in county government, Jones said. She recalled some of the largest strides taken were the construction of a new jail during Greer’s administration and the recent start of a judicial center during Hale’s administration. There were slopes, too, like the unfortunate obstacle of a pandemic in 2020 and litigation throughout the years.
Then there was the local option election to sell alcohol in the county. That process began with several hundred names signed to a petition, and the county judge/executive’s office was charged with certifying those names. The county clerk’s office, at that time, was located at the Central Center (near modern-day Big Lots) while the courthouse was undergoing renovations.
“We sat on the floor going through voter records,” Jones said.
“And it was a dirty floor,” Houchens added while the two laughed.
“Going through those is a long process, even with the computer system – and we didn’t have that. We were going through voter registration cards and verifying that that is this person or that is this person and verifying whether that signature counts,” Jones said.
Politics are ugly, and there’s no question about it, the two said. But much of their jobs have involved maintaining independence as servants to the people of Barren County rather than allegiance to any particular judge/executive.
The two concluded those seeking positions in county government should be aware of state laws, audits and ethical decision-making. Asking questions when in doubt is also an integral part of the job.
Jones, on the other hand, has been offered a job but “respectfully declined.” She said she plans to take care of her family and commit more time to her church.
Houchens said she plans to spend more time with her husband and outgoing District 7 magistrate, Billy. She said his health has declined in recent months and he is in need of more care. She hopes to maintain her yard work, too, alongside some volunteer work.
“It’s time for me to go home now,” Houchens said. “I think he needs me more than I need to be working here. He’s still able to get out. So hopefully, we’ll be able to do a little traveling – short trips.”
The two are set to retire effective Jan. 1, 2023.
