State Supreme Court justices to make local stop
Chief Judge Mike Keeley, 20th Judicial District chief judge, has extended an invitation to all county officials and citizens to come meet two members of the Kansas Supreme Court at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Courtroom A on the third floor of the Barton County Courthouse, 1400 Main, Great Bend. Chief Justice Lawton Nuss and Justice Marla Luckert will be available at that time.
It was fitting.
Shortly after being honored with the Barton County Employee Recognition Award for her efforts with the Golden Belt Veterans Memorial Tuesday morning, Diana Watson was back in her office on the phone with the family of a veteran to be honored on the monument.
It was during the county commission meeting that Watson received the distinction for the second quarter. The Employee Relations Committee recommends outstanding individuals for the award, said ERC President Wendy Birzer.
“She listens to the stories of veterans or their families’ stories about their service to our country with respect, and as much time needed,” Birzer said, reading from the nomination form. “Their information is carefully entered and checked so it is engraved on the stone correctly and the way the veteran wants it.”
Some vets bring in photographs. Watson scans these and puts them on the county’s website. She also presents information about the ongoing memorial project to various organizations and promotes it.
“To date, Diana has talked with over 750 veterans or their families and recorded over 1,040 lines of information to be engraved on the memorial stones,” the nomination said. Two stones have been filled and the third is in the works.
In following the ERC’s lead to honor Watson, the commissioners said they appreciated what she has done and her stepping up to take on this endeavor.
