The Republic-Monitor • www.perryvillenews.
com
Haertling returns to head ILS
By Amanda Hasty
ahasty@perryvillenews.com
The Immanuel Lutheran
Church and School has seen
a lot of transformations over
the past year, from enjoying
the 150th anniversary of the
church to seeing the retire-
ment of both Pastor Thomas
Handrick and school princi-
pal William Unzicker. Now,
the school will see the return
of one of its beloved mem-
bers to take the position
of acting principal, Velda
Haertling.
Haertling is a member
of the Immanuel Lutheran
Church and began her career
in Perryville at ILS in 1969
teaching second grade.
Over her career, she also
taught kindergarten and sev-
enth grade as well as English
and literature for grades 5-8,
and she acted as coach for
volleyball and cheerleading.
She also served as assistant
principal at the Perry Coun-
ty Middle School in 1998
before taking the position of
principal in 1999.
As the Immanuel School
began the calling process
for a new principal, the con-
gregation asked Haertling if
someone was not found for
the next school year if she
would act as the temporary
administrator. She decided
that, though she was com-
fortable with her retirement,
she would consider the offer.
“I was first approached
in January with the option to
help,” Haertling said.
“In March the school
board called to say that
someone had been called
for the job, but asked me
to keep the option open if
they did not respond. I said I
would consider it short term
if it came to that.”
It’s your
perfect
day,
let everyone
know about it!
P.O. BOX 367
10 W. STE. MARIES ST.
PERRYVILLE, MO 63775
573.547.4567
SERVING PERRY COUNTY SINCE 1889
NEWS
Velda Haertling is pictured with three of her grandchildren, (from left) August,
Alaina and Amelia. Her oldest grandson, Tucker, is not pictured.
Unfortunately, the indi-
vidual who was called did
not accept the offer and was
unable to inform the school
until mid-May, which left
the school board in a predic-
ament with no leader for the
approaching school year.
The school had put out an
invite to current staff to see
if anyone was interested in
filling the position internal-
ly, also with no luck.
So, in June, the board
again addressed Haertling,
this time inviting her to step
in until someone could be
found.
Haertling retired from
the education system in the
spring of 2015. At first, re-
tirement was an adjustment,
though she had been looking
forward to some time off.
Since she left school she
has been spending more time
with her grandchildren and
dividing her efforts between
several community groups
and functions, but said after
a while she became bored
after going through the men-
tal transition of retirement.
“I was used to being so
busy, I missed the business
and all of the kids,” she said.
“Plus you think about being
an educator for all those
years, my identity was really
with my career for so many
years. Yes, I was a wife and
mother and now a grand-
mother, but I was like ‘Who
am I since I am not the prin-
cipal?’”
By her second year of
retirement, she had settled
into a routine where she was
more focused on a relaxing,
healthy routine, of course
including ample time for af-
ternoon naps.
When the school called,
finally asking her to take the
job, Haertling asked herself
if she wanted to step back
into administration after fi-
nally settling into her time
off.
But for her the choice
was actually easy once both
sides decided on a set of
arrangements saying that
Haertling would fill in as
principal only temporari-
ly. As soon as someone was
found to fill the position, she
would step down.
“There are lots of things
I can do to help here,” she
Thursday, August 17, 2017 • 8A
Board at the Chester High School
gymnasium on Thursday,
Aug. 24 from 4-7 p.m. The
school is located at 1901
From Page 1A
Swanwick Street in Ches-
being constructed there. ter.
The veteran’s wall board The city and county
members suggested the public auction, which was
name Veterans Drive for scheduled for Oct. 21, was
the city’s portion of the found to also coincide with
highway, but staff under- the farm implement auction
stood that the name was al- by Heartland Auction Ser-
ready in place in the Le- vices across town. Buer-
gion Lake area. ck shared that the resched-
The aldermen were in uled city/county auction
favor of the “Veteran’s” was moved to Nov. 4 and
portion of the title, but would see a better turnout
more information for the at this time.
roadway’s name category City engineer Tim Baer
would be needed. reported that the Edgemont
According to city en- project is nearing comple-
File Photo
gineer Tim Baer, there are tion. Crews have opened
certain definitions that Shelby and Gahnal Streets
qualify a roadway for one to thru traffic again and
said. “With Pastor Handrick moniker, such as Boule- pavement work on Jackson
and Mr. Unzicker retiring at vard, over another, like Av- Street will begin sometime
the same time, this is a time enue or Street. More re- this week.
we need to stand together search will be completed The expected Edgemont
with leadership to get some before a final name can be opening date is still nearly
transitioning done so the decided upon. two weeks away, and stop
new people coming in can City administrator Brent signs will be added to the
take off running.” Buerck shared with the intersections on Shelby and
Though Haertling is board the date of the first South Jackson Streets, cre-
happy with filling the ad- open house for the ongo- ating a no-stop flow of traf-
ministrative position, she ing Chester Bridge Study. fic down Edgemont once
is looking forward to going MoDOT will be holding an completed.
back to her self-described open to the public gather- The next city council
“me-time.” ing looking for public opin- meeting is scheduled for
“It’s like coming home ion and insight into the pos- Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 6:30
because I was here for near- sible updates to the bridge. p.m. in the meeting room at
ly 28 years and at PCMS for The meeting will be held City Hall.
17,” she said.
“So it’s kind of like com-
ing back to the same old
stomping grounds, except
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it’s a brand new building.” www.perryvillenews.com
Day Long
Pre-Eclipse of
the Sun Party
with a
Martin Luther
Theme
Lutheran
Heritage Center
75 Church Street,
Altenburg, MO
Sunday
August 20
9:00 a.m. Join us for Church at Trinity Lutheran, Altenburg
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Lions Club Fried Chicken Luncheon at Trinity School
1:00 p.m.-3:00 Tour the Lutheran Heritage Center Campus
3:00-4:00 p.m. “Perry County Lutheran Chorale” Concert in Trinity Church
4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Local Food Vendors, Beer, & Live Music by
Barefoot on Sunday
7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. “Martin Luther, The Idea that Changed the World”
Movie sponsored by Thrivent Financial
Thrivent Financial will be providing “Eclipse Glasses”
in order to “Eclipse Hunger” for a donation of three
canned goods! For the Immanuel Lutheran Food
Pantry-Perryville, MO
Enjoy music, Entertainment, Great Food, and Luther’s favorite
beverage, BEER!
We want to thank our event partner: