News : Courthouse party honors three retiring county employees

Elaine Bolton:30 years

Roger Witt, left, speaks to guests at his retirement party.

Seems like yesterday: Rick Bramow hired Dennis Thompson 25 years ago.

While one retirement party took place upstairs, another one took place on the main floor of the Benton County Courthouse on Thursday, Dec. 30. County employees bid farewell and good luck to three long-time employees.

Roger Witt, a courthouse maintenance employee, and two Secondary Roads Department employees –office manager Elaine Bolton and road crew member Dennis Thompson – officially ended their employment with the county at the end of 2010.

“I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since I hired Dennis,” said Rick Bramow, who hired Thompson in 1985. “It literally feels like I just hired him yesterday.”

Bramow was one of many people who joined the celebration for Bolton, Witt and Thompson.

Vinton Today asked all three of them about their plans for retirement. Mostly, they all said, they do not have any big plans for the immediate future.