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Show MMaij in ir " Dignitaries gather for ribbon cut$S at new courthouse addition: contractor Jack Maxwell, left; Jim Yardley ; County Attorney Pat Nolan; Commissioner Dell LeFevre; County Clerk Dawna Barney; County Monday afternoon's sunny weather enhanced the activities associated with the open house celebration to officially dedicate the remodeling of the old Garfield County Courthouse and the facility's bright new addition in Panguitch. Garfield .County justice of the1 peace John Yardley served as master of ceremonies and welcomed county officials, judges and school and church representatives. The Escalante High School band with advisor Madlyn Haws marched down Main Street, playing and performing, to officially open the ceremonies. Presenting the colors were boy scouts from troops 661, 680 and 681 under the direction of scoutmaster Jon Jarvis. Musical numbers were performed by the Panguitch High School band with Barry Erickson. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Commissioner Guy Thompson. Judge Yardley praised the newly remodeled facility but emphasized that it is ' the county's "special people who make Garfield County special." Keynote speaker for the celebration was Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Don V. Tibbs. Tibbs said that he was very pleased with the design of the facility and encouraged the entire community to use the new courtroom, suggesting that it be utilized for Eagle Scout Courts of Honor in the future. Tibbs said it was important for people to realize that the courthouse " is a place where things happen, not a memorial building." He said significant happenings take place at the courthouse: marriages, divorces, adoptions, taxpaying, registration of vehicles, property transactions, and many disputes are resolved there, he said. "Great things" are taking place every day at the courthouse, Tibbs said. He said the courthouse is a public building where public servants abide. He said he hoped each public servant would re-dedicate himself to better serve the public in the new courthouse were the very nature of their work requires them to be special people. Commissioner George Middleton displayed a plaque which will be mounted at the new facility. It dedicates the building to "better serve the public" and bears the names of the present County commission and county officials plus the architects. (Gardner Recorder Mamie Hatch; County Treasurer Merle Stowell; Commissioner George Middleton; Commissioner Guy Thompson; Judge Don. V. Tibbs and Judge Louis G. Tervort. Rites Dedicate Addition To Garfield County Courthouse Partnership, Cedar City) and contractors (Jack Maxwell, Valley Construction, Glendale). Middleton welcomed all former county commissioners who were in attendance and said he has some understanding on what they went through in using the old facility. He said the remodeling project was initiated because -of the .desperate need for additional space which was pointed up clearly on the day that bids for construction were opened. Middleton stated they found it necessary to move three times in the building because of space conflicts with the courtroom and other rooms being used for other purposes until they finally found a place in the hallway to open the bids. He expressed appreciation to everyone who had helped to push the project through in such a timely way, and acknowledged specal guest John Rokich, planner with the State Natural Disaster Office under the Utah State Division of Emergency Management and Jerry Kaffer, operations officer and Chief of Disaster Response. Comments were also offered by County Commissioners Dell LeFevre and Guy Thompson. As people walked through the courthouse to note the changes, flowers and plants, gifts from counties and agencies throughout the state, congratulated Garfield County on its beautiful and practical new facility. |