AURORA – One Thanksgiving, a man called Aurora 911 because it was his first time making turkey, and he needed to know the right temperature for the oven.
That's a call that still makes Ethel Nelson smile. Nelson said she gave the man a phone number for the Butterball hotline (1-800-BUTTERBALL for those nervous about Thursday).
Over her nearly 22 years of answering calls at the Aurora Public Safety Communications Department, Nelson has heard it all. She says people still surprise her.
She worked what the dispatchers refer to as "720" now: the Aurora theater shooting on July 20, 2012. Her role that night was to help coordinate crews.
Nelson said her hardest call was the robbery at the East 70 Drive-in Theater in 1994. She was the one who got the call from one of the cashiers at the theater. She later learned two cashiers were stabbed. Both, luckily, survived.
"That one was hard because, No. 1, I was new," Nelson said. "It was a hard one to take that."
Nelson prefers to dispatch fire calls.
"No one is shooting at the firemen, running, jumping," she said. "Engine 13 goes out, I stand and wave at them, [like] a kid in the candy store."
After 22 years, Nelson said the trick to her job is not to take it home. Discuss it at work and leave it there.
"You basically can't hold it in," she said. "Get satisfaction in knowing you helped someone and be ready for the next call."
Nelson doesn't have many "next calls" left. She's retiring in May. She said it's time, but it's a big loss says co-worker Mason Burton because he says Nelson is the heart and soul of the Public Safety Communications Department.
"Just her personality," Burton said. "Just her, the way she conducts herself. It's hard to say, that's why she's the heart and soul, because you can't really put your hand on it, can't put your finger on it."
Burton has been collecting what he calls "Ethel-isms," things that Nelson says and others are now repeating:
- "Bootleg!" (when something just isn't right)
- An "O'Clocker" (someone that doesn't show up until the last second ... right at 8 "O'Clock")
- "Ready to G-O, go" (time to go)
- "Critter" (any small animal)
- "Wildebeest" (any medium or large animal)
- "Gotta sleep fast" (have to be up early)
- "Domesticatin'" (a domestic dispute)
- "Bumpis on the noggonis" (head injury)
- "Don't know nuttin' 'bout nuttin'" (when someone doesn't have information)
Nelson laughs at the "list." She said Burton promised to present her with it at her retirement party. The full list of about 60 items wasn't available because, Burton says, not all of them are suitable for publication.
Nelson shrugs off the whole "heart and soul" thing.
"I'm very flattered and very honored by that, but I don't think so," Nelson said. "I don't think so. I think it's a team effort. We have a great time here and that's what helps."
"This place won't be the same when she's not here anymore," Burton said.
9NEWS learned about this story after Burton emailed us. If you have a story you'd like 9NEWS to check out, please email newstips@9news.com.
(© 2015 KUSA)
