State Sen. Terri Bryant: New Franklin County Courthouse ribbon cutting 'a once-in-a- lifetime event'

Franklin County celebrated the opening of a new courthouse. | State Sen. Terri Bryant/Facebook

By David Beasley

May 1, 2022

State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) was on hand for the ribbon cutting as Franklin County welcomed its new county courthouse.

"A once-in-a-lifetime event," the legislator said April 22 on Facebook. "Ribbon cutting for the state-of-the- art Franklin County Courthouse! Check out the support of the local citizens, evidenced by the crowd size!"

The construction project took two years to complete, and the building is full of new security and technology features, WSIL-TV reported.

There's a new "sally port" where officers will drive into the complex in a vehicle with inmates, and they will be admitted from there, the station reported.

Franklin County Board member Kevin Weston explained how this makes the courthouse more secure: "They've (deputies) got a key fob that will open this door," Weston told WSIL-TV. "Or if they're from another department, there's a speaker there they can talk to control room and say can you open the door and bring them in that way."

The courthouse, located in Benton, will be operational starting in early May. Until then, staff members will be setting up their offices, the station reported.

"Beginning Monday, May 2, 2022, the Franklin County Board Committee meetings and Franklin County Board meetings will be held at the Franklin County Board Room," the county said on its website. The old courthouse has been "decommissioned and is awaiting demolition," according to the county's website.