03/17/2020 10:20am, District Court In a statement released today, the Independence County District Court noted it is not canceling court appearances on March 18 or March 25. However, the court notes public safety is their priority and precautions will be taken in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Precautions will include: allowing only those appearing on the docket in the courtroom — with the exception of minors, who will be allowed one parent or guardian to accompany them, and those attending court may be required to undergo non-invasive body temperature readings and will be asked to follow precautionary handwashing procedures prior to entering in a courthouse building. The court notes in the event those have a valid reason for not attending a scheduled court appearance, such as a doctor’s excuse, to have their healthcare provider fax it to (870) 793-8875. The release says those wishing to forgo attending court and instead wish to handle their case online to visit pay.arcourts.gov. 03/17/2020 09:00am, Courthouse Closure with Curbside Help As of Monday afternoon, at 4:00, there is not a known or suspected case of COVID-19 in Independence County to our knowledge. However, effective Tuesday morning, in keeping with the current CDC recommendations to help slow the spread COVID-19, and the recommendation of both the Association of Arkansas Counties and the Arkansas Municipal League as follows: The Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) and the Arkansas Municipal League (ARML) encourage Arkansans to conduct their county and city business online as much as possible. “Limiting the risk of exposure to state and local officials, as well as to the public, is of paramount concern at this time,” said AAC Executive Director Chris Villines. Most counties offer, for instance, online payment of property taxes through the Arkansas Property Tax Center.” “This day and age, cities and towns have the ability to transact e-business more than ever before. The League strongly recommends that you utilize these services during a time such as this. We want our members to be safe and err on the side of caution,” said League Executive Director Mark R. Hayes. The Independence County Courthouse will have its doors locked to the public, with an employee at the door. If you have business that can’t be conducted online or using our drop box, located on the Annex next door, an employee will assist you at the Broad Street entrance and direct your need to the appropriate office for assistance. Even while this current health concern is ongoing, our goal is to provide a service to the public while maintaining everyone’s safety.