People in the news may fade from the scene, but they often resurface. Here’s an update on a few of those faces:Reporter Perry Swanson was on the beat at the El Paso County Republican Assembly when he ran into a guy some called the sixth county commissioner. After his long reign as a commissioner and county administrator, Terry Harris has a new title: professor.He’s not teaching tap dance, though some would say he was pretty good at that.No, Harris is teaching local and state government and political science at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.Harris, who retired a year ago, loves his gig. He enjoys the subjects, especially discussing them without sticky political considerations. Harris said he doesn’t have to tiptoe around and can “tell it like it is.”

Back and forthAfter being laid off by El Paso County, Sue Autry has been rehired by the city of Colorado Springs. Autry served as city human resources manager from 1998 to May 2005, earning $101,500 when the county lured her away.She ran afoul of higher-ups and was let go last summer, with the county saying Autry aligned herself with employees instead of protecting the county against employees. County officials also said they wanted to use her $105,000 salary to hire a contractor. Autry said she was seen as too outspoken, questioning how the county manages self-insurance and promotions of men to high-end positions.In May, the Colorado Springs Police Department’s human resources manager moved to the Fire Department. Despite a hiring freeze, city officials in August decided the slot was crucial and widely posted it in September, Human Resources Director Ann Crossey said. Autry was hired in November; her annual salary is $96,444.

Back to the futureSharon Thomas was hired in May 2005 as Colorado Springs School District 11’s superintendent. She was sent packing a year later with a $426,000 buyout of her three-year contract.Education writer Shari Griffin reports Thomas worked for a time at the American Numismatic Association but recently told Lake County, Fla., School District board members she wants back in education, the Orlando Sentinel reported.Thomas was one of six finalists vying for the top spot in the 40,000-student district in Tavares. Last week she didn’t make the cut.

Still ‘budzing’Military affairs writer Tom Roeder advises there’s life for Army flacks after active duty.Former Fort Carson spokesman retired Lt. Col. Thomas Budzyna worked there from 2002 to 2005 and, among other things, had the grim duty of commenting on Iraq war casualties. He was always good for a quote. During the 2004 troop homecoming parade, he said, “Talk to these guys 40 or 50 years later, they’ll be saying: ‘You know, Colorado Springs really treated us well.'”Budzyna has traded his uniform for pinstripes. Still on the Army payroll, he’s director of public affairs for Army Garrison Schinnen, Netherlands, a top NATO logistics base.

Let us know who you’d like us to follow up on at pam.zubeck@gazettedev.gazette.com

Colorado College defenseman Brian Connelly and the Tigers will need to be more physical as they take on Minnesota tonight on a smaller, NHL-sized ice sheet at XCel Energy center in St. Paul, Minn. Photo by KEVIN KRECK, THE GAZETTE