Courthouse Restoration Progressing

Police say Christopher Millis is responsible for the excessive amount of damage at the courthouse after a standoff with police that lasted hours and ended in gunfire Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - Over the past couple of weeks, Marion County employees have been moving back into the courthouse.

They have been locked out for more than six months after a November 12th incident caused extensive damage and scattered nearly 200 people to alternative locations to conduct public business while repairs are being done.

County facilities workers reoccupied space in the basement toward the end of May. Some Sheriff's Office staff, including administration, evidence clerks and two security officers, have now moved into their renovated basement offices as well.

Furnishings will be going in over the next few weeks, according to Marion County Spokesperson Sue McCracken. "Materials will start being returned to state court vaults beginning this week, a process that will take two to three weeks."

She says more people will move in the last week of June, and the basement and first floor of the courthouse will be open to the public on July 3rd, if all continues as planned.

Work on the upper three floors of the courthouse is expected to be complete and offices and courtrooms opened to the public before the end of August.

Related story from June 1st, 2006: Marion County Courthouse Nearing Completion of Rebuild