THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT--THE HONORABLE FLETCHER SAMS AND SHERIFF DAN KILGORE WERE THE GUEST SPEAKERS AT THE GROUND BREAKING FOR UPSON COUNTY'S NEW $20 MILLION JUSTICE CENTER ON 19 SOUTH--WEDNESDAY. IT WILL PUT ALL THE COURTS IN THE COUNTY, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ALL OTHER COUNTY COURTS AND THE CLERK OF COURT , IN ONE 53,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING. COMMISSION CHAIRMAN NORMAN ALLEN WELCOMED THE CROWD AND NOTED THE JUSTICE CENTER WILL BE FUNDED BY SPLOST FUNDS, NOT PROPERTY TAXES.
ACCORDING TO JUDGE SAMS, WHEN THE CURRENT COURTHOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1909, A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE GAVE THE BUILDER A $10 BILL TO BE PLACED IN ONE OF THE COLUMNS SO THE COUNTY WOULD NEVER BE BROKE. JUDGE SAMS IN TURN, HANDED CONTRACTOR PARRISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, A $10 BILL TO BE PLACED IN THE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW STRUCTURE TO COVER ANY COUNTY FINANCIAL MELTDOWN.
JUDGE SAMS MENTIONED THERE'S OPPOSITION TO THE NEW JUSTICE CENTER, AND RECALLED A LOCAL DOCTOR OPPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF THE CURRENT COURTHOUSE-- AND TOOK IT ALL THE WAY TO THE GA. SUPREME COURT BEFORE LOSING HIS CASE.
SHERIFF KILGORE EXPLAINED THE SHORT-COMINGS OF THE CURRENT COURTHOUSE, SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS THE SAFETY OF JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, JURORS, DEFENDANTS , AND THE PUBLIC.
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