6th Judicial honors employees for their dedication, service 

Cedar Rapids — The 6th Judicial District honored court employees Monday for the 16th year, recognizing 'those behind the scenes' who make the courts run efficiently every day.

The district comprised of Linn, Johnson, Jones, Benton, Tama and Iowa counties is the only judicial district in the state that formally recognizes clerks, court reporters, court attendants and outside agencies who work with courts each year.

Carroll Edmondson, District Court administrator, said during the ceremony that when the budget cuts hit the courts in 2010 and there was no money for 'extras,' the judges of the district personally funded the awards ceremony and continued to recognize employees for their public service.

Several received Dedicated Service Awards including Senior Judge Thomas Koehler for 35 years, Chief Judge Patrick Grady for 25 years, court clerk Yvonne Bunce for 40 years and Juvenile Court officer Norm McElwain for 45 years.

Judge Mary Chicchelly presented her court reporter Joni Rickels with the Distinguished Service Award. Rickels is 'phenomenal court reporter who goes above and beyond' to help her with her judicial duties and supports other co-workers.

Senior Judge Nancy Baumgartner presented the Employee of the Year award to Julie Green, secretary of court administration, saying Green takes on many duties in her position and goes out of her way to provide help in the office, to the judges and the public.

Baumgartner said Green was a great source of help during the transition to the Electronic Document Management System by creating templates for the various court forms now filed online.

Other awards presented:

- Teamwork Award to five Linn County court clerks — Cody Homewood, Joyce Hite, Lynn Kratz, Angie Lopez and Leah Stadtmueller

- Marge Morgan, Linn County magistrate scheduler, received the Public Service Award

- Friend of the Court Award went to Cedar Rapids police school resource officers Charity Hansel, Thaddeus Paisar, Janae Obbink, Tracy Johnson and Jessica Barnhart