New federal courthouse open for business in JC

Former U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., right, hugs U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt as Blunt gets up to speak at the dedication of the Chritopher S. Bond United States Courthouse Tuesday, in Jefferson City. Blunt sponsored the legislation naming the building in Bond's honor, which made it through Congress just last week. President Obama signed the measure on Friday.
Former U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., right, hugs U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt as Blunt gets up to speak at the dedication of the Chritopher S. Bond United States Courthouse Tuesday, in Jefferson City. Blunt sponsored the legislation naming the building in Bond's honor, which made it through Congress just last week. President Obama signed the measure on Friday.

Although it hosted its first trial five weeks ago, the new "Christopher S. Bond United States Courthouse" formally was dedicated and opened for business Tuesday.

Gone are the tight spaces and crowded, single elevator leading to the second and third floors above the Main Post Office at 133 W. High St.

"Jefferson City plain needed a new courthouse," Bond said during a 10-minute address during the dedication ceremony. "I was a practicing lawyer 42 years ago, and even then we needed a new courthouse.

"You may remember that, in the old courthouse, when you ride up in the elevator, you may be riding up with a judge. Or you may be riding up with a criminal defendant.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.