BROWARD CLOSED TUESDAY

Good morning. It's 61 degrees at 6:00 AM.  The high today should be in the low 70's. 

FROM THE BROWARD BLOG:

The Courthouse is definitely closed to the public Tuesday.   However, it is open to employees.  Wednesday public closure is highly likely as well.  The North Wing is expected to reopen to the public Thursday, while the old sections of the Courthouse may be closed until at least next week.

The problem, as reported in the papers, is that the main water pipe into the Courthouse burst.  The pipe is located over by Howard Forman's office, which apparently has been destroyed.  Many criminal files from the misdemeanor section of the Clerk's Office were also damaged.

The main problem is due to the fact that the central phone banks were installed next to the water main.  They have been soaked, shorting out all phone service to the Courthouse and the jail.  Smoke alarms running off the phone lines are also a major concern.  By Thursday the phone company may be able to provide roughly 120 lines, 90 of which will be split up between the jail and the Clerk's Office.  The remaining lines are to be split between the State, PD, and possibly the judges.

First Appearances Court is open, and will be the main clearing house for any criminal emergencies that may come up during this second Great Flood. 

One last tidbit - Eileen O'Connor is apparently being assigned to restraining orders, replacing Jack Tuter, who is going to Family.

None of this is official, except the Courthouse being open to employees starting Tuesday.  It's just what we're hearing.