Published: July 01, 2008 07:29 pm         

Laurel Countians celebrate Jane Russell Day

Monday was Jane Russell Day, held in honor of a beloved Laurel County woman who, on Tuesday, retired from the University of Kentucky Extension Service Office after 20 years of hard work.

Her coworkers decided to celebrate the day in style. Last week, they gently twisted the arm of Laurel County Judge-Executive Lawrence Kuhl, who agreed to sign a proclamation declaring the special day.

Russell’s supervisor, Judi O’Bryan, came up with the idea.

“We just thought Jane’s a very humble person and really just does anything that is required to be done,” she said. “We wanted her to know that there are people out there that really care for what she’s done and she’s made a difference in people’s lives.”

For her special day, Russell will be taken out to lunch and share cake and punch with friends and family.

All of which is a surprise.

It’s something her coworkers are thrilled to pull off.

“I’ve been with Extension for 12 years and Jane is one of the most dedicated and sincere professionals in her field,” Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent Glenn Williams said. “She’s very knowledgeable about her job and she has always had a great deal of compassion for the families in her programs. She has dedicated her life to helping others.”

O’Bryan and Louise Moore agreed.

“Jane has a lot of team spirit,” O’Bryan said. “She’s always been willing to go the extra mile.”

“She has epitomized our logo of helping people help themselves,” Moore added.

Russell has worked as a program assistant for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Pro-gram.

“We work with families and try to teach them good, basic nutrition,” she explained.

The monthly lessons involve teaching families how to stretch their food dollars, information about the food guide pyramid and food safety.

The families are also taught how to cook, with Russell leading the lessons.

Over the years, she’s made everything from biscuits and cornbread to baked pork chops with her families.

“And we would go to the Farmer’s Market and use vegetables to make things like zucchini bread. In the fall we would use pumpkin,” she said. “A lot of them hadn’t heard of pumpkin soup.”

Along with teaching lessons, Russell also left room for requests from the families.

“One girl told me she would like to learn how to make a (chocolate) soufflé,” she said.

Russell, who had never made a soufflé before, went back to the office to research the project. But after scouring some recipes, the notoriously difficult dish turned out.

“It raised up real nice and pretty,” she said. “It tasted like a combination of cotton candy and chocolate pudding.”

Russell has also been involved in going to local schools to teach kids about nutrition, something she’s enjoyed doing.

“I had a little fellow come up to me at Frisch’s a few weeks ago,’ she said. “He said, ‘I know you!’”

But now, Russell is passing on the baton to Velma Mullins. She said she’s ready for a break.

“I’m 66 now and I feel it’s time that I want to do some things for myself,” she said.

Those things involve sewing, doing some traveling and dedicating time to a close relative.

“I have a 92-year-old aunt and I promised I would go visit her when I retire,” she said.

Russell leaves the Extension with lots of positive memories.

“It’s been a really good experience,” she said. “I’ve made a lot of friends over the years.”