Malta Bend juniors Colton Goodman (left) and Zen Brandt view pages of a deed book in the Saline County Recorder of Deeds vault. The book was one of ten recently restored by Sutterfield Technologies of Oklahoma, who also digitized the pages. (Photo by Kyle Hill, KMMO News)

Saline County’s elected leaders welcomed over 50 students from Malta Bend, Santa Fe and Sweet Springs high schools Friday, March 6 to the courthouse for the annual Government Day tour.

Students spent the morning hearing from each official about their office and the role they play in county government, then paying a visit to each office. That included the recorder’s office, where Jessica Baker had on display in the vault one of the ten deed books recently restored. Five students from Malta Bend were among those who had the change to see the restored pages from the books that go back to the county’s formation 200 years ago. Junior Zen Brandt tells KMMO News he was impressed by the local history on display.

Junior Colton Goodman says the tour helped to build on a newfound interest for local government that he and his peers have received from Malta Bend’s new social studies teacher, Emmalee Luscumbe.

In addition to the courthouse, students were also scheduled to receive a tour of the Saline County Justice Center from Sheriff Daniel Kirchoff. Government Day has been a project of the county’s American Legion posts for over 70 years, which this year was organized by Malta Bend Memorial Post 558 commander Steve Olson.