Meet the new senior center administrators in Jackson, Scott City and Marble Hill

Within the last year, three area senior centers have new administrators at the helm. They include Janet Hitt in Jackson, Barbara Leming in Scott City and Vickie Slinkard in Marble Hill, Missouri.

Hitt began working at the Jackson Senior Center on July 19.

"I was the administrator at the Scott City Senior Center for nine years," she says.

Before that, her career was in education.

"I taught elementary school in Jackson for 32 years," she says. "Then, after I retired, I worked as a classroom aid for several years."

Janet Hitt, the new administrator at the Jackson Senior Center, poses for a photo on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Jackson.Laura Simon

Hitt, who is 66 and has three grown children and three grandchildren, originally is from Grafton, Illinois.

"But I've lived in Jackson since 1972," she says.

She says the people are her favorite thing about being administrator at the Jackson Senior Center.

"Everybody has been so welcoming, and they seem glad for me to be here," Hitt says. "And several of our volunteers are retired schoolteachers that I know from Jackson schools."

A complete listing of the center's menu and activities is available on the Jackson Senior Center Facebook page.

"We desperately need volunteers to work as runners (walking the meals from vehicles to the doors of homebound seniors) and in the dish room," Hitt adds.

Barbara Leming is the new administrator at the Scott City Nutrition Center.Ben Matthews

Barbara Leming became administrator of the Scott City Nutrition Center on July 15.

"I was in charge of the kitchen here for three years before that," she says.

Her previous experience was in real estate and food service.

"I was a Realtor with Century 21 with my husband, Bud, for 10 years," she says. "Before that, I worked at the Cape Country Club."

Leming, who is 71, has one grown child, four grown stepchildren, three grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren. She is from Scott City and still lives there today.

Her passion as a senior center administrator is helping people.

"I like meeting new people and being able to help them with their needs," she says.

The Scott City Nutrition Center offers a variety of activities, including bingo and a host of guest speakers.

"We also have yard sales from time to time where you can donate your items to sell, and the money we make goes to (help run) the center," Leming says.

Vickie Slinkard, administrator of the Marble Hill Senior Citizens Nutrition Center, poses for a photo Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 in Marble Hill, Missouri.Fred Lynch

Vickie Slinkard has been administrator of the Marble Hill Senior Citizens Nutrition Center since July 2015.

"Before that, my sister, Martha Peters, was the administrator here for over 26 years," Slinkard says.

Slinkard's background is in office management.

"I was the co-owner and office manager of Show Me Construction Company for over 25 years," she says. "And I worked at Southeast Missouri State University for over five years as a dispatcher for crafts/workmen."

Slinkard, whose age is "just passed the 60s mark," as she puts it, has one daughter and two grandchildren. She is from Southeast Missouri and resides in Burfordsville.

She describes her favorite part of her job as "working with the seniors themselves."

"They are wonderful, loving people, and I really enjoy helping them and seeing them on a daily basis," she says.

In addition to bingo, exercise classes and other activities, the Marble Hill Senior Citizens Nutrition Center is gearing up for a chicken and dumplings dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. The dinner will be held in conjunction with the United in Christ Parade and Rally that will take place in Marble Hill that day.

"The chicken and dumplings dinner is $8 for all you can eat," Slinkard says.