August 29th, 2007

Further testing will be arranged at the Hempstead County Courthouse following an investigation into the possibility of asbestos contamination, which resulted from anonymous tip-offs to the authorities. The courthouse found itself in hot water with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality following the anonymous tips-offs.

Hempstead County Judge Wallace Martin stated that a portion of the building had been tested for asbestos presence previously, and that the results came back clear. However, he also added that following further contact from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality all of the five floors of the building will have to be tested.

He stated: “They are suggesting we do this. No one has made complaints. It is just a follow up procedure. It is a follow up from the original inquiry. They think it is a good idea for us to have a complete survey done from top to bottom. Once this comes back, we won't have to worry about any complaints about asbestos.”

He went on to state that the boiler room, which was the only place that was known to have had asbestos present, had been sealed off.