COURT HEARING SET ON CHARLESTON COURTHOUSE PLANS

Meanwhile, at least one resident of Mississippi County believes the prospects for a prison at Charleston lends weight to the argument that the old county courthouse, which was the victim of an arsonist earlier this year, should be restored instead of destroyed and replaced.

Hugh Hunter Byrd, a farmer, has taken legal action to keep the Mississippi County Commission from demolishing the remains of the historic old courthouse. Byrd and others in the area would like to see the old building restored.

But the county commission decided several weeks ago to replace the courthouse, citing cost savings and other factors. A vote on a half-cent sales tax for three years to help pay for the new building is set for Aug. 5.

Those who want the old building preserved have complained that the county commission gave their arguments, which included information from engineers and architects, little consideration before deciding in favor of a new courthouse.

A circuit judge has set a hearing for next week on the temporary restraining order he issued blocking the demolition plans.

The arguments one both sides -- keep the old building or build a new one -- have some merit. Those who value a sense of tradition and history certainly want to see the landmark courthouse preserved. Charleston is a beautiful small town with an abundance of Southern charm, and the old courthouse has been the centerpiece for decades. At the same time, county commissioners believe a new building will be more cost-efficient and serve the county's taxpayers better in the long run.

If nothing else, next week's hearing in a courtroom should provide the forum for both sides to lay out their cases, an opportunity that supporters of preserving the old courthouse believe they have been denied up till now.