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Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

Irene Ashley has spent the last 60 years working in the Scioto County Recorders office, and now she is ready to retire on Dec. 31.

When Ashley first joined the recorders office, she was a deputy recorder.

“I started in the recorders office in 1952; I’ve been recorder since 1984. I was honored by the state a couple of weeks ago for my many years of service,” Ashley said. “In 1979 I was made chief deputy by then recorder Harold Hanes. Then in 1984 I ran for office and have been there ever since, as Scioto County Recorder”

She said she has seen a lot of changes in her years.

“We’ve gone from all handwriting and typewriters to computers. When I started working in the recorders office I made $35 a week. A lot has changed.”

For the past 75 years, Scioto County has had only two Recorders — Harold Hanes and Ashley.

“Harold Hanes was the late recorder and he was fantastic, he taught me well. I knew every job in the office and have worked with good people,” Ashley said. “I’ve had a wonderful career I’ve enjoyed it.”

After announcing her retirement plan last year, the seat went up for election in November. Democrat Gail Alley defeated Republican Bill Warnock, 16,492 votes to 11,968 votes. Alley currently serves as a deputy recorder and started in the office in 1991. She will be sworn into office on Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. in the lobby of the Scioto County Court House by Portsmouth Municipal Judge Steven Mowery.

”I’ve done pretty much everything in the office from running copies to stamping papers to helping Irene with the budget,” Alley said. “I’ve also had experience in ordering necessary supplies and talking to salesmen about our computers and copiers.”

Alley said her future plans include putting all of the records online.

“In Ohio, there are only 27 counties of the 88 counties do not have online records. A lot of people have asked me about that,” Alley said. “A lot of it (getting records online) has to do with finical difficulties; there have been a lot of requests for that.”

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 228, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.