MONROE - The Monroe Times is saying farewell to a long-time co-worker today as news clerk Jean Woodruff retires after almost 20 years with the newspaper.
Woodruff is possibly the most recognizable person in the newsroom; she helps most of the people who stop in, call or e-mail submissions to the Times.
"Is Jean there?" is a question often heard when she's out of the office for a day or away from her desk. It's a sign of Woodruff's commitment to helping both readers and news staff with the day-to-day task of gathering news.
"Jean has been a very dedicated and loyal employee of the Monroe Publishing family. Over her 20 years of employment, she became the 'go to' contact for our news department. Whenever you needed to know something, we always knew that Jean would have the answer. And, if she didn't, she would find the answer for us," said Carl Hearing, vice president and general manager of Monroe Publishing.
"Her words of wisdom and up-beat personality will be missed by the entire staff and those she has built relationships with over the years."
Woodruff said she's met a lot of people over the years. She's helped people with wedding and engagement announcements, contacted pastors about their weekly religion columns, worked with funeral home directors to write obituaries and helped people with anything else that might come up throughout the day.
Although she and her husband Don live in Rock City, Ill., Monroe has become a second hometown to her. She's made friends with not only her co-workers, but also with the people who come into the office with a news item, a question or a concern.
What's kept her looking forward to coming to work has been the fact that no two days are the same.
"I like the variety," she said. "You have sympathy for a family when you do an obituary, but then you kind of celebrate with a family when they have a birth announcement or a picture of five generations."
Because of her job, she's also had some unexpected adventures. She's been able to ride in a B-17, a hot air balloon and a bi-plane and got to drive a Dodge Viper.
After she retires, she plans to spend time with her husband, expand her ham radio interests, help her husband work on their 1957 Ford Thunderbird and learn how to play golf.
"I don't have any great plans," she smiled.
It will be hard to retire after so many years with The Monroe Times, she said.
"You never really leave the newspaper," she said. "You build relationships with people and organizations in the community.
"They will always stay with you."
Woodruff is possibly the most recognizable person in the newsroom; she helps most of the people who stop in, call or e-mail submissions to the Times.
"Is Jean there?" is a question often heard when she's out of the office for a day or away from her desk. It's a sign of Woodruff's commitment to helping both readers and news staff with the day-to-day task of gathering news.
"Jean has been a very dedicated and loyal employee of the Monroe Publishing family. Over her 20 years of employment, she became the 'go to' contact for our news department. Whenever you needed to know something, we always knew that Jean would have the answer. And, if she didn't, she would find the answer for us," said Carl Hearing, vice president and general manager of Monroe Publishing.
"Her words of wisdom and up-beat personality will be missed by the entire staff and those she has built relationships with over the years."
Woodruff said she's met a lot of people over the years. She's helped people with wedding and engagement announcements, contacted pastors about their weekly religion columns, worked with funeral home directors to write obituaries and helped people with anything else that might come up throughout the day.
Although she and her husband Don live in Rock City, Ill., Monroe has become a second hometown to her. She's made friends with not only her co-workers, but also with the people who come into the office with a news item, a question or a concern.
What's kept her looking forward to coming to work has been the fact that no two days are the same.
"I like the variety," she said. "You have sympathy for a family when you do an obituary, but then you kind of celebrate with a family when they have a birth announcement or a picture of five generations."
Because of her job, she's also had some unexpected adventures. She's been able to ride in a B-17, a hot air balloon and a bi-plane and got to drive a Dodge Viper.
After she retires, she plans to spend time with her husband, expand her ham radio interests, help her husband work on their 1957 Ford Thunderbird and learn how to play golf.
"I don't have any great plans," she smiled.
It will be hard to retire after so many years with The Monroe Times, she said.
"You never really leave the newspaper," she said. "You build relationships with people and organizations in the community.
"They will always stay with you."