BEATRICE – One of the longest-ever serving employees in Gage County government was recognized Wednesday by the Gage County Board as she approaches retirement.


Diane Wells will be leaving at the end of the year as the long-time Clerk of District Court, completing 49-and-a-half years in county employment….almost four decades as Clerk of District Court.


"I just want to say thank you to the citizens of Gage County who have let me be able to work that many years. When I started out, there were some ladies that said they had hit fifty years in my first few days of working here...and I thought that's a long time....who stays here that long?  And now, those years are gone for me too, but I thank the citizens."


Wells did not seek another term as Clerk of District Court. She said she has a lot of good memories with her fellow employees and co-elected officials in the courthouse.  One of her employees, Phyllis Schoen, was elected in November and will take over as District Court Clerk, next month.


Gage County Board Chairman Erich Tiemann called it a both a happy, and sad occasion.  "We really do appreciate your service. Over the next ten years, we'll see some different faces in the building. We've had some pretty consistent people over the years in Gage County and in the courthouse. New faces bring new ideas and change, but consistency is always favorable, too."


Tiemann presented a plaque to Wells on behalf of the board of supervisors, congratulating her on her career with Gage County government.


In 2021, Wells was selected as the Outstanding Clerk of District Court in the state, by the Nebraska Judicial Branch. A Democrat, Wells was first appointed to the Court Clerk position, then ran and won election to the job, nine times.