NEWPORT-Cocke County Mayor Vaughn Moore and City of Newport Fire Inspector Jeremy Shelton met with other local officials to discuss progress in remedying the county courthouse overcrowding and related issues, on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

"Everything's looking pretty hopeful," the fire inspector said of the county's short-term plans to remedy problems of overcrowding in the courthouse.

Shelton said Circuit Court is "still a little overcrowded" at times.

He also addressed a waiting area on the second floor of the courthouse, blockage of hallways by those waiting to go to court, and other issues.

Shelton noted that City Hall council chambers are being used to hold people waiting to appear in court. The mayor said he and Shelton had met earlier in the day and ordered signs, such as "No Weapons" to guide those waiting at City Hall to appear in court at the nearby courthouse.

Shelton did say one issue that needs to be addressed is the second floor waiting area, which by state fire codes can only hold a maximum of 25 people. Shelton also noted that, "They don't need to be standing in the hallway."

For more details, please see the Thursday edition of the Newport Plain Talk.