Gage County District Court Clerk honored by Nebraska Judicial System

LINCOLN – A court official in Gage County has been honored by the Nebraska Judicial System. Gage County District Court Clerk Diane Wells has been awarded the Marjorie Schaffer Memorial Award, which recognizes commendable performance by a clerk of a district court in Nebraska.

The honor is given for exemplary leadership, effective guidance of change, achievement of sustainable results, or strength in coaching and mentoring.

Wells, an elected Clerk of the District Court in the First Judicial District has served in that role since 1986. She has volunteered on several state committees and has been a mentor to many clerks over the years. Wells was instrumental in identifying needs for the JUSTICE computer system during its initial development and state justice officials say she is relied upon for her wealth of court knowledge.

2021 Judicial Award winners include:

Employee of the Year: Dean Rohwer, Problem-Solving Court Coordinator, District 3

Outstanding Customer Service in the Courts: The Justice Help Desk (statewide electronic recordkeeping system for the court system) - Ann Alden, Jordan Flynn, Jason Fredenburg, Laurayne Hall, Jordan Hernandez, Sue Nieto, Mike Prochnow, and Casey Tribolet

Outstanding County Court Staff: RayLynn Coble, Assistant Clerk, District 8 - Custer County

Outstanding Probation Office Support Staff: Linda Veerhusen, Administrative Assistant, Operations Division

Outstanding County Court Clerk Magistrate: Linda Smith, Magistrate, District 11 - Hitchcock County

Outstanding Probation Officer: Erin Curran, Probation Treatment Officer, District 2 - Sarpy County

Outstanding Clerk of the District Court: Diane Wells, Clerk of the District Court, District 1 - Gage County

Outstanding Probation Supervisor: Creston Ashburn, Problem-Solving Court Coordinator, District 2 - Sarpy County

Outstanding Administrative Employee: Melissa Ireland, Judicial Branch Education Training Manager, Judicial Branch Education

Innovation: Chelsie Tasso, Clerk Magistrate, District 12 - Box Butte County

Outstanding Team: Adolescent Development Workgroup, District 3J - Martin Jensen, MaKayla Parriott, Michelle Lindhart, Jennifer Manning, Amoreena Brady