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Shelly Ross really treasures her new job.

The 48-year-old took over the duties of the Holt County treasurer Jan. 19 and was officially sworn into office Feb. 1.

The board of supervisors appointed Ross on Jan. 7 to the elected position's current four-year term that runs through December 2022.

She took over as the full-time treasurer from Connie Krotter, who had served in the O'Neill-based position for 15 years.

"My new role is going well," Ross said. "We have an excellent staff in our office, which has helped create a smooth transition.

"One of my favorite aspects of working in the treasurer's office is getting to know the residents throughout our county," she said.

She had been working as an office clerk in the treasurer's office for the last five years before taking over the treasurer's seat.

"I became the treasurer through the encouragement of the former treasurer and the current office staff," Ross said.

"I chose to apply for the position with the idea of building on my solid foundation of current work experience and knowledge to continue the operation of the office in an effective manner," she said.

The primary duty of the treasurer's office is to receive money due to Holt County and then properly disburse the collected funds.

"The treasurer's office provides all motor vehicle services to the residents of our county and we also mail statements of taxes due and special assessments and collect on those statements," Ross said.

Years before working in the treasurer's office, she graduated in 1992 from Northeast Community College in Norfolk as a word processing specialist with an emphasis on office procedures.

Ross then worked for:

-Fifteen years at Great Western Bank in O'Neill as a teller and later the teller supervisor.

-Nine years at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in O'Neill as a transcriptionist and coder in medical records.

Ross was born and raised in O'Neill and lives in the Holt County seat city with her high school sweetheart, Mike, who works at AgLand Electric near Atkinson.

"We have two children," Ross said. "Our daughter, Kelci, is married and lives in Fairfax, Virginia, and is the mother of our first grandchild, Jackson. Our son, Caleb, is also married and he and his wife live in rural O'Neill."

As for the treasurer's seat she recently took over, she intends to run for the position when it next comes up for election.

"I am very excited to take on this new role as Holt County treasurer," Ross said. "I very much enjoy working with the public and am looking forward to continuing to operate our office in a friendly, professional and helpful manner to the citizens of Holt County."