Wvw Defeats Old Foe 
Spartans Drop 
Argents In Key 
Swim Meet

3 Juveniles Arrested After Chase, Robbery

By MITCH MORRISON; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, January 11, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Elizabeth "Bettie" Ishley, the county's personnel/budget
secretary for 12 years, was quietly reassigned last week, stunning some
courthouse workers who routinely stopped by her basement office for
information or to chat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 County Chief Clerk/Administrator Gene Klein said he made the decision to
transfer his longtime assistant to the records department at the county-run
Valley Crest nursing home in Plains Township. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It's strictly a personnel issue, but it was rather amicable, I must say. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Teams sometimes change," he said. "There was no malice whatsoever. There
was no subterfuge or camouflage." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The move will cost Ishley $3,500. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ishley, 57, of Franklin Township, earned $27,100 as personnel secretary and
another $3,500 as secretary of the county's workers' compensation board. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ishley keeps her $27,100 salary as part of the transfer, but she loses her
second job because many of the workers' compensation claims come from Valley
Crest, Klein said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The part-time workers' compensation position was given to Marianne Svab,
who also is Commissioner Frank Crossin's secretary. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ishley, who declined comment Wednesday, was highly respected by many county
workers for her knowledge of courthouse policies and budgetary matters. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "She's a big asset. She knows everything in the courthouse," said a veteran
county employee surprised by the transfer. The employee spoke on condition of
anonymity. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Two courthouse workers said the transfer was anything but amicable. They
said Ishley was stunned when Klein stripped her of her workers' compensation
job. Only after losing that job did Ishley and Klein discuss a reassignment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Still, Klein praised Ishley's performance, saying, "she has my utmost
respect." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Freshman GOP Commissioner Joseph "Red" Jones said he was not aware of the
transfer. Democratic Commissioner chairman Tom Makowski said Klein made the
move without his input. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm not about to tell him what to do with his secretary," Makowski said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Worker's Transfer Stuns Courthouse Employees