Winona court office closed Wednesday mornings

Last update: March 3, 2008 - 9:50 PM

WINONA, MINN. - No one will answer the telephone at the Winona County court administrator's office on Wednesday mornings, and don't bother going to the counter.

The customer service counter at the courthouse will be closed Wednesday mornings as part of budget cuts in the Third Judicial District that went into effect this month.

The Winona County attorney's office says telephone calls to the office will go unanswered between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Hours will be reduced in all 11 counties of the southeastern Minnesota judicial district, which also includes Houston, Wabasha, Fillmore and Olmsted counties.

The cuts were prompted by a projected $300,000 budget deficit in the judicial district for the fiscal year ending June 30th.

Although hours will be reduced for court administration, actual court hearings and trials should not be affected.

Specifically, the Third Judicial District says the morning closings will be Tuesdays in Freeborn and Houston counties; Wednesdays in Winona, Mower and Olmsted counties; Thursdays in Fillmore, Steele and Waseca counties and Fridays in Dodge and Rice counties.

ASSOCIATED PRESS