Article Options

Programs on Aging settles into new home

By Codell Rodriguez, The Southern

Friday, July 18, 2008 10:58 PM CDT

HERRIN - Robert Childers is just happy he can work in a building with more windows and offices that are not located in closets.

Childers, executive director of Williamson County Programs on Aging, moved into the new senior center with the rest of his crew Thursday. The original facility at 212 E. Walnut St. was plagued with sagging ceilings and little room for patrons or employees.

Some services were located at other sites, and meetings had to be conducted at Carterville or Herrin civic centers. There was so little room, some employees had to work out of closet space.

"Over there it was too small," Head cook Valley Hutton said. "We could barely get around. Here we have plenty of room."

The new facility is located at 1201 Weaver Road and has plenty of office space, twice as many restrooms, an expanded kitchen, a larger dining room, a more spacious lounge area, an exercise room and a crafts room. Each room has plenty of windows.

"I think the seniors really love it," Childers said. "They really like it being nice and new."

In addition to being new and roomier, there are more parking spaces. The old facility had spaces for 12 cars. The new one has space for 75 cars and has stops for Rides Mass Transit busses and loading areas for trucks.

The new facility also lets programs such as Home Health and the United Mine Workers Benefit program work on-site.

Childers said the facility has been in the works for six years.He said he's glad they started planning early.

"I'm just glad we had the foresight to plan for this six years ago," Childers said.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

351-5804