Forrest courthouse evacuation underway

May 24, 2006

May 23, 2006 05:41 PM

WDAM-TV - Hattiesburg,MS,

The Forrest County courthouse is emptying out one office at a time.

Because of problems with mold and mildew, about 30 employees along

with their records and office supplies are being relocated to

several alternate Hattiesburg locations.

By the end of the week, officials hope to have the courthouse clear

of all staff.

" The only people that are left in the building right now are the

people that are actually in the basement of the building where we

haven't started any of the work yet, " says maintenance supervisor

Curtis Elliott.

The public defender's office, the drug court, a GED program, and the

veterans affairs office have yet to move. But the circuit clerk's

office is on the way out.

" Moving is never pleasant, but it was a choice that had to be done

so I'm glad we're proceeding, " says Circuit Clerk Lou Ellen .

Her office handles many services, including marriage licenses and

voter registration. Those duties generate important records that

also have to be moved.

" Decisions had to be made about what I had to have, what could be

left over, so it's been a rather stressful time for me, " says.

The circuit clerk's office is moving across the street to the

renovated Masonic Temple. But materials can't just be boxed up and

moved through the front door. Before any items can leave the

building they have to pass through a cleaning process and then

undergo testing again to make sure they are free of any mold or

mildew.

The district attorney's office has already been moved to 301 West

Pine

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