Judge Notes-June 5

Judge Notes
By: Corey R. Moon
It’s that time of year again…the time for change and new beginnings. Students are graduating and moving on in life. Parents are preparing to have more activity around the house as the school year ends. Flowers are blooming. Trees are budding. Gardens and crops are growing. It’s an exciting time.
The courthouse has not been spared by this time of change. We are undergoing renovations in the courtroom, which have put us out of sorts, but not out of business. In early May, the circuit clerk and prosecuting attorney’s offices received new carpeting for the first time in a very long time. It was strange to see office furniture strewn across a benchless courtroom.
When that work was completed, the courtroom walls were painted, the old drop ceiling was removed, and a new drop ceiling grid was installed. It was fascinating to look up and see an original ceiling beam exposed by a piece of tile that had fallen. After the new ceiling tiles are installed, new carpet will be laid in the courtroom.
Once the new carpet is in place, the original pews will be re-installed, and business will return to normal. In the meantime, business goes on but looks a little different. We have been using the alternate courtroom, which is located in the annex building east of the courthouse. This was formerly home to the county assessor’s office. It recently received an upgrade of new paint, flooring, and a new bench.
All this change had me thinking about the past. I realized this year is the 150th anniversary of the courthouse! Our courthouse, the third in the county’s history, was built in 1875. It is one of the few Missouri courthouses built in the 1870’s that is still in use. It cost around $10,000 to build. Look out for future articles about this long-standing staple of our community.