Tucker County Commissioners present Diane Helms with a plaque congratulating her for her many years of service in the Tucker County Circuit Clerk’s office during their regular meeting last Wednesday. Helms worked for more than 20 years and retired from her duties the end of March. Pictured are, from left, Commissioner Diane Hinkle, Commissioner Patrick Darlington, Helms and Commission President Lowell Moore.
PARSONS – Commission members took time Wednesday to recognize a long-term employee for her service to the Tucker County Community. Diane Helms retired at the end of March and Commissioners presented her with a plaque, honoring her for her more than 20 years working in the Tucker County Circuit Clerk Office.
Commission President Lowell Moore said the Commission wanted to honor Helms for her outstanding performance during the last 20 plus years.
“As we congratulate you on your retirement, we recognize the years you have worked here with unsurpassed efficiency and excellence,” Moore said. “You have been an inspiration to all of us. You possess a rare combination of vision, fairness and understanding.”
Moore said the Commission wanted to thank Helms for all she has done for Tucker County and said they send their very best wishes to her for a happy retirement.
“As you move on to the next amazing chapter of your life, know you will be missed,” Moore said. “Know that our very best wishes go to you and your husband. This is farewell but not goodbye.”
Tucker County Circuit Court Clerk Sharon Moats said she hates to see Helms leave.
“But I know she is ready to retire,” Moats said. “She has been a well-loved employee.”
Helms said her final day is March 31. She said she worked in the Tucker County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office for 21 years.
“I worked with four Circuit Clerks including Katherine Mauzy, Allen Judy, Donna Jean Bava and Sharon Moats,” Helms said. “I worked with seven Circuit Court Judges and six family court judges.”
“I worked with four Circuit Clerks including Katherine Mauzy, Allen Judy, Donna Jean Bava and Sharon Moats,” Helms said. “I worked with seven Circuit Court Judges and six family court judges.”
Helms said so many things have changed and evolved over the years.
“We became computerized in 1996 when Allen Judy was Tucker County Circuit Court Clerk,” Helms said. “I was originally hired as a Deputy Circuit Court Clerk and when Jean took office, I was made Chief Deputy Circuit Court Clerk and have served in that position for the last 19 years.”
Some of the changes over the years come from directives from the Supreme Court.
“Filing fees have changed and we took on a new Family Court Judge since I started,” Helms said. “We didn’t use to have that when I started – they were Family Law Masters and then they made them Judges.”
Once upon a time, the Circuit Clerk was in charge of the voting process, but that has switched over and is not the responsibility of the Tucker County Clerk.
“Our office also took on the domestic violence cases from the Magistrate Court,” Helms said. “We do those cases now and that nearly doubled our case load.”
When Helms started, the Tucker County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office was in the Tucker County Courthouse. She said the move to the Tucker County Courthouse Annex happened about three years ago after the building was completed.
“This office is so nice,” Helms said. “It is so much nicer because we have a window we work from and people are not coming directly into the office. We can take care of their needs at the window. There are also individual rooms where our clients can fill out their paperwork in private. We can go in with them to help and our conversation is private. It is really helpful.”
Helms said she enjoyed going into the courtroom and helping with cases.
“Whenever the Circuit Clerk could not go into the courtroom, I would go in,” Helms said. “The compassion you have for people going through our court system is very important to me. They deserve their privacy. We have new Judges and they are very nice to work with.”
She said she will miss the people she worked with most once she retires.
“I am ready to retire, but I will miss those in the office,” Helms said. “Once I retire, my husband and I plan to do some traveling.”
