Big shoes to fill

I’ve worked with many department directors and elected officials over the last 21 years. I could make a list of the good, the bad and the ugly. At some point, I likely will. Some out there should be shaking in their boots at the thought of that.

Levie Glenn, retiring after 32 years with the Warren County Highway Department, lands on the good list. He has always been kind and courteous to me. If I ever needed anything, he was willing to help me.

Back when a tornado tore through Viola, I went out to take a few pictures of the destruction. Deputies with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department had a roadblock up and wouldn’t let me through. I understood that they were doing their jobs. No hard feelings. However, I was trying to do my job.

I went back to the Southern Standard and called Levie.

“They won’t let me through, Levie. I just need a few pictures.”

He replied, “Where are you?”

I told him, and he stated, “I’m on my way. Be there in 10 minutes.”

He picked me up and drove me past the deputies and to where the debris remained of a trailer. Apparently, the tornado picked it up. When it landed, the trailer was crushed.

I spoke to the property owner. Her son lived in it on her property. She said she heard a loud crash. Upon looking outside her window, the trailer was gone. She then watched as he crawled out from under the debris buck naked.

If the above doesn’t sound familiar to those who followed me at the Standard, it’s because she refused to let me use it in the newspaper. Because I’m no longer there, I think it’s fair game. He was uninjured and likely learned a valuable lesson against sleeping in the buff – at least during tornado season.

Instance two: When Warren County had severe flooding, Levie reported that a bridge had been washed away and the area was blocked off for public safety. I couldn’t find it, so my safety was secured. Levie picked me up and drove me to it. I was able to get a picture of him next to the roadway that had also been partially washed away.

Instance three: We had some heavy storms blow through. I called Levie, as I usually do, asking about the worst hit areas. He told me and stated that the guys were still working to clear trees from the roadway. If I hurried, I could get a picture. I did as he instructed, but they had everything moved by the time I got there. To ease my disappointment, the guys moved a tree back into the roadway so that I could snap a couple pictures of them removing it. They were kind to me, as always. While that was the crew and not Levie, it proved that a good leader generates good employees.

I could go on and on stating instances on why Levie, as well as his department, made my good list, but I’ll stop with those three. Josh Roberts has some big shoes to fill, but I have zero doubt that he’ll be great in this new role. He made my good list a long time ago, but that’s for a different column.

The segment is called Reporter Diaries by Lisa Hobbs. It is dedicated to my time reporting the news in Warren County.