March 1974 Rosa Sanchez began her 40-year journey as a Humboldt County employee with the Planning Department where as secretary she drew and colored maps and prepared agendas for the planning commission.
"My goal was to reach 36 years," she said, "but when I reached the 36 I just loved what I was doing and just thought, 'Well, I'll just keep on working.'"
She recalls that the subject of Star City Estates came up during her time in the Planning Department. "I remember going out there and there was nothing," Sanchez said.
After three years in the Planning Department, Humboldt County District Attorney Bill Macdonald offered her an opportunity to work in the DA's office. Before she left the DA's office she had worked as secretary in the criminal, civil and private practice parts of the office with criminal being her favorite. Deputy district attorneys were allowed to have their own private practice back then and secretaries helped with that also.
While there she once worked with the famous Mills Lane, former Nevada District Court judge and boxing referee. When he was the Washoe County District Attorney he came to Humboldt County on business.
"He actually came up here and prosecuted a murder case," Sanchez said. "My last job (in the DA's office) was typing up the cable TV ordinance. That was all new (in the early '80s)."
She had been there five years when a new court position opened and she took it.
The Sixth Judicial District was changed to include three counties - Pershing, Humboldt and Lander - and at that time the second judicial seat (Dept. 2) was created and she became the first secretary for the first judge in that department, Richard Legarza, where she remained for the next 32 years.
"People tell me I have too much empathy, too much compassion," Sanchez said. But it's that concern for others that has made her special to the folks that came through her office.
She said that over the years the biggest change has been the dramatic increase in the caseload with a lot of it because of drugs. "Everything has become complicated," she said.
The Humboldt County Drug Court began with seven clients about 10 years ago.
Clients came in with nothing and it was hard for them to believe that they could be more than what they were. After interviewing them it became easier for Sanchez to see why they had gotten into drugs.
It's hard for a person to quit when their parents have been using and the Drug Court clients began using when they were five or six, she said.
"They don't know any other life," Sanchez said, noting that it can get frustrating.
"We get 'em through the program and one month later they're back to the same stuff," Sanchez said. "To me if you can go out there a year after the program and be clean and sober, I consider that a success. We've had quite a bit of success. We've also had a lot of failures too."
Sanchez said education is a factor in clients' success, and a local agency helps clients get their General Education Diplomas.
"Our JOIN (Job Opportunities In Nevada) office is so good," she said. "It's so exciting to see them pass."
She understands there is a possibility that even her grandchildren could get involved in drugs and that possibility brings tears to her eyes.
"That just scares me," Sanchez said. "It can happen to anybody. Drugs affect all walks of life.
"I've enjoyed (working in Drug Court). It was really hard to walk away. I've been putting it off for a year and a half. It's been a pleasure to have worked with Judge (Michael) Montero and the Drug Court team."
But even in retirement she helps with drug testing once a week.
Sanchez doesn't have a bucket list for her retirement years, but spending time with her two grand-kids is a top priority.
"I'm just going to relax for a while," she said. "I'm just going to take it one day at a time."[[In-content Ad]]
