The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office initiated a “soft opening” of the new courthouse security plan starting Wednesday, Aug. 9. The purpose behind this “soft opening” is to gradually introduce the public, county employees, and all others who visit the courthouse complex to the new security measures, new parking arrangements, and new entrance/exit procedures over the coming weeks prior to the full implementation of the new security measures on Sept. 5.

Effective last Wednesday, the east side main doors of the Marathon County Courthouse are now secured, and all persons from the public enter through the west main doors of the courthouse. Other than the east doors, courthouse employees are able to leave and enter the courthouse through the other doors that they currently have access to. Courthouse employees will not be screened at the other points of entry/exit of the courthouse.

Through Sept. 4, periodic screening at the main security screening point will be conducted. The hours of screening that will take place will vary depending on the day, and signage will be posted informing persons entering the courthouse as to whether the screening point is active, or if the screening point is not active. If the screening point is not active, persons will simply walk through the screening area without stopping.

When the screening point is active, all persons entering the courthouse via the west main doors will be screened according to Sheriff’s Office procedures, and all bags, coats, and packages will be subject to x-ray examination (unless a special exemption is authorized in advance). Courthouse employees are encouraged to go through the screening process so that they can be accustomed to the process prior to the full security start date of Sept. 5.

During this time period there will be continual work being conducted on physical infrastructure of the courthouse, such as signage and installation of various types of equipment.