MISSISSIPPI COUNTY OFFICIALS BREAKING IN COURTHOUSE

CHARLESTSON, Mo. -- While awaiting the construction of a new state prison, Mississippi County officials are breaking in the new courthouse some of the prison's future residents may be visiting.

"We've had a few minor problems with the door locks, but overall it's been doing really well," said Mississippi County Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg.

The new Mississippi County Courthouse opened this month after a fire gutted its 96-year-old predecessor in February 1997.

Although the fire was investigated by about 30 officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' national response team -- the same team that investigated the Oklahoma City federal building bombing -- and arson was determined to be the cause of the blaze, the arsonist wasn't found.

The fire began on the second floor of the old courthouse -- which was in the middle of an $800,000 renovation project -- and devastated the courtroom, the prosecuting attorney's office, the judge's chambers, and the offices of probation, public administration and juvenile services.

No injuries were reported from the blaze, although the adjoining county jail was evacuated. The 22 prisoners were escorted across the lawn to the Charleston City Hall, then returned to the jail shortly after noon.

It marked the second time the structure had burned -- the red brick, two-story building caught fire once before in 1938 because of a remodeling accident. The damage then was less extensive.