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4 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009 COURTHOUSE MEMORIES • THE SEA COAST ECHO Side view of the newly-expanded Hancock County Courthouse. house and the construction of a 9,000-square-foot addition which will include office and storage space. The new addition includes offices, storage space, an inmate holding cell, bathrooms, elevator, and a records vault. The courtroom, which doubled as a board room prior to the storm, was completely opened and will be used as a permanent courtroom. The judge's bench was moved back to its original location on the northeast wall of the courtroom. The gallery will be behind a wooden partition with the jury box in the center of the room. The design was done on request of several of the judges, most notably Judge Jerry O'Terry, who retired last month. "They said they wanted to be able to look at the jury during deliberations, Jim Brumfield of Compton Engineering said. In the center of the room is the large circular opening to the roof which used to house a golden cupola on the roof. The area has been completely restored along with a new roof and plaster along the walls. Lights decorate the oval circle where the cupola once was based. The new addition to the courthouse will house family court, the district attorney's office, sheriffs department process server's office, and storage rooms. "It is really nice," Brumfield said. "We expect the courtroom to be one of the most beautiful in the state. Who knows, John Grisham may want to come here and shoot a movie in our courtroom." Chancery Clerk Tim Kellar said the courthouse is something that everyone in the county can be proud of. "It is magnificent," Kellar said. "There are so many people to thank who helped make this project happen. We are very proud of this building." CITY OF P.O. Box 539 Waveland, MS 39576 HOSPITALITY CITY LI LI STAHLER ALDERMAN, WARD 1 City Hall: 228-467-4134 Cell: 228-243-3235 lilistahleralderman@mchi.com -yr-'Tr ZACH BUTTERWORTH an Experienced Trial Attorney • Probate • Divorce • Product Liability • Criminal Law DUI • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death • Auto Accidents ALL STATE & FEDERAL COURTS FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION Licensed to Practice in Mississippi & Louisiana 33yrs Experience Associates Gary Yarborough & Chad Favre
Hancock County Courthouse Courthouse-Memories-SCE-Special-2009-(03)