On Monday the 8th of September, Laura Bivens was notified that she was selected by the Lamar County Commissioners Court as the new Lamar County Veterans Service Officer (VSO). She will be replacing the Interim VSO, C.H. “Chet” Hilyer.
Yesterday, she was formally appointed by County Judge Superville to make it official. Laura had previously been filling the position of secretary since January 2nd, 2014 and as of August 19th, as the Assistant Veterans Service Officer (AVSO).
Ms. Bivens was born and raised in Checotah, OK and moved to the Paris area with her family in 1988. She graduated North Lamar High School in 1989 and enlisted in the Army in June of 1990. After nine years in the Army as a Heavy Equipment Operator and Driver, she moved back to the Paris area after getting out of the Army in June of 1999 with an Honorable Discharge. During her time in the Army, she completed her Associates degree from Chaminade University of Honolulu.
Her prior experience includes as the Manager of Walgreens from 2002 to 2007 and working at Child Protective Services from 2008 until 2013. She completed her Bachelors of Science degree at Texas A&M University Commerce in 2003. She is married to Davy Bivens, owner of Bivens Construction & Excavation, and they have a daughter Cheyenne. She is a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the American Legion.
Last Friday, during the budget approval process, the Commissioners Court authorized the Veterans Service Office to add one day to the VSO’s approved hours now making it four days a week for the VSO and three days a week for the Assistant VSO. With the newly added day, Laura is looking at Wednesday’s potentially being her day to visit Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Homes, and Homebound Veterans to help process claims and benefits for those that cannot make it to the office.
When asked what her first priority was going to be, she said “To hire and train a new Assistant Veterans Service Officer so we have two people in the office capable of assisting our local veterans.”
The new position will be posted soon on the www.co.lamar.tx.us website under “Employment Opportunities – Job Openings” tab.
Ms. Bivens also said “Once we have the new ASVO hired and trained, it will give us two people in the office available to process claims and benefits for all eligible veterans, dependents and survivors with the services they have earned.”
The Veterans Services Office is currently open from 8am – 5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays and is located in the Courthouse Annex Building (Old Post Office) on Lamar St.
Effective October 1st, the Veterans Service Office will be open from 8am until 5pm Monday thru Thursday.
By: JD Marrs